T20 WC 2021: Top five knocks of the tournament
Australia defeated New Zealand in the titular clash of the 2021 T20 World Cup to win their maiden title in the format. Over the course of 45 matches in nearly a month-long competition, plenty of breath-taking knocks were witnessed.
Here are the top five knocks from the tournament:
5) Daryl Mitchell – 72 off 47 vs England
Chasing 167 against England in the first semi-final, New Zealand were on the backfoot for the larger part of their attempt thanks to Chris Woakes, who struck twice inside the powerplay, sending back both Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson cheaply. Mitchell held his nerves in pressure, staying unbeaten on 72 off 47 to ensure his team advanced to the final.
4) Matthew Wade – 41 off 17 vs Pakistan
#PAKVSAUS
Take a Bow for Matthew Wade
41 Run in 17 Ball
3 Sixes under pressure 😯😯 pic.twitter.com/Kj5a7aQI5r— 🆅🅸🆅🅴🅺 🆈🅰🅳🅰🆅 🌱 (@Viv1_Yadav_) November 11, 2021
Matthew Wade singlehandedly demolished Shaheen Afridi, hitting him for three successive sixes to pull off a heist in a game Australia had started losing its way. Chasing a competitive 177-run target in the second semi-final, Australia were in the middle of a tense chase, needing 50 from the last four overs. Wade, who was dropped by Hasan Ali in what proved to be the costliest drop in the tournament, stood unbeaten on 41 off 17, with two fours and four sixes, as took Australia home with an over to spare alongside Marcus Stoinis.
3) Kane Williamson – 85 off 48 vs Australia
Albeit Williamson’s knock came in a losing cause, it was a fine display of T20 batting in a crunch, high-pressure final. The New Zealand skipper was reprieved on 21 when Josh Hazlewood dropped him in the deep off Mitchell Starc, and he ensured to make his opponents pay as he shifted gears quickly to race to 85 off 48 with 10 fours and three sixes.
2) Mitchell Marsh – 77* off 50 vs New Zealand
Mitchell Marsh proved his naysayers wrong with a sensational T20 World Cup campaign, contributing consistently at the crucial No. 3 position for his team. He was at his best in the all-important final, as he responsibly kept the team on track during the 172-run chase. Marsh, who slammed six fours and four sixes in his unbeaten 50-ball 77, was well-assisted by David Warner, which led Australia to their maiden T20 World Cup triumph.
1) Jos Buttler – 101 off 67 vs Sri Lanka
England opener Buttler was at his devastating best against Sri Lanka after his team was put in to bat for the first time in the tournament. England, who won all the previous games while chasing, found themselves in a spot of bother, reduced to 35/3 inside the powerplay. Unleashing the monster in him, Buttler smacked six sixes and as many fours to notch up his maiden century in the format. His onslaught took England to 163/4 before bowlers made a brilliant turnaround to keep Sri Lanka to 137.
