Everyone loves to see close finishes in cricket. On the one hand, the winning team feels relieved, while it is utter heartbreak for the losing side. It is always a big success for T20I cricket when the spectators are constantly on the edge of their seats and are biting their nails. Here is the list of Top 10 Last-Ball Thrillers in T20I Cricket-
1. The Netherlands Against England (2009)
It was the opening match of the Group B of the 2009 T20 World Cup. The Netherlands was chasing the target of 163 against England at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London. Eventually, the Netherlands needed 2 to win in the last ball. Bowler Stuart Broad bowled and collected the ball. The batters meanwhile attempted to steal a run. Stuart Broad, who had all three stumps to aim, missed the run-out chance, and the batters took the second run to stun the hosts by 6 wickets.
2. India Against Bangladesh (2018)
India and Bangladesh were playing in the Nidahas Trophy Final in 2018 at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. India was in a tricky situation, needing 34 runs in 2 overs with only 5 wickets in hand. In the penultimate over, Dinesh Karthik smashed Rubel Hossain for 22 runs, bringing the equation to 12 runs from the last over. In the first five balls, Soumya Sarkar gave just 7 runs and took one wicket. Needing 5 on the last ball, Karthik hammered Sarkar for a flat six over deep cover to win it for India.
3. Pakistan Against Bangladesh (2021)
Bangladesh hosted Pakistan in the Third T20I in Mirpur in 2021. Chasing 125, Pakistan needed 8 runs from the final over to be bowled by Mahmudullah. In the first three balls, Mahmudullah bowled three dot balls and took two wickets. This brought two new batters to the crease. On the fourth ball, Iftikhar Ahmad hit a huge six but got out the next ball. Pakistan needed 2 from the last ball. New batter Mohammad Nawaz hit a four on the next ball to take Pakistan to a 5-wicket victory.
4. India Against Bangladesh (2016)
This match was a classic example of “Never celebrate too early.” In the 2016 T20 World Cup, India clashed with Bangladesh in a Super 10 Group 2 match in Bengaluru. Bangladesh needed 11 from the last over. Hardik Pandya conceded 9 runs from the first three deliveries. Bangladesh’s Mushfiqur Rahim started celebrating his yet-to-come victory. Needing 2 from the last 3 balls, Bangladesh lost Rahim and Mahmudullah on the next two deliveries. Needing 2 from the last ball, Mustafizur Rahman was dismissed run-out by MS Dhoni. India won the match by one run.
5. South Africa Against New Zealand (2014)
South Africa and New Zealand met in a match in the 2014 T20 World Cup. In this match in Chittagong, New Zealand was chasing 171 runs to win. In the last over, the Kiwis needed 7 runs to win with 5 wickets in hand. On the first ball, Dale Steyn got rid of Luke Ronchi. On the fourth ball, Steyn was hit for a four by Nathan McCullum. Asked to defend 3 runs from the last two balls, Steyn dismissed both McCullum and Ross Taylor to win it for the Proteas.
6. India Against Australia (2016)
This was an inconsequential match, as India already had an unbeatable 2-0 lead. In the Third T20I in Sydney, Australia rode on Shane Watson’s 124* to post 197/5. In the second innings, India needed 17 to win from the last over with Yuvraj Singh (5 runs from 9 balls) struggling to score. But Yuvraj shut everyone up by scoring 11 runs in the first three balls. Needing 2 from the last ball, Suresh Raina scored a four to take India to victory.
7. Sri Lanka Against Australia (2017)
Sri Lanka invited Australia to bat in a T20I at Melbourne in 2017. Australia posted a decent score of 168/6. In the run-chase, Sri Lanka needed 6 from the last over. Andrew Tye failed to defend one run from the last ball as Sri Lanka won the match on the last ball.
8. New Zealand Against India (2009)
In the second T20I between India and New Zealand in Wellington in 2009, the hosts invited India to bat first. Yuvraj Singh’s half-century powered India to 149/6. In reply, New Zealand needed 12 from the last over. The McCullum brothers achieved the target on the last ball to help New Zealand win by 5 wickets.
9. Australia Against South Africa (2016)
Australia toured South Africa in 2016. In the second T20I at Johannesburg, South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada was asked to defend 11 runs in the last over. He dismissed David Warner (77) on the first ball. But James Faulkner and Mitchell Marsh made sure that Australia win without any more hiccups.
10. Sri Lanka Against Australia (2017)
Australia hosted Sri Lanka in a T20I at Geelong in 2017. The hosts rode on Moises Henriques’ half-century to post 173. In the 19th over of the second innings, Sri Lanka was 36 runs short of winning the match. Asela Gunaratne and Nuwan Kulasekara smashed Henriques for 22 runs in the second-last over. In the last over, Gunaratne hit the winning 14 runs despite losing Kulasekara on the other end.
