UNREAL: South Africa snatched an in depth victory following a double super-over in opposition to Afghanistan. Photograph: AFP/File
MUMBAI:
India thrashed New Zealand within the remaining of the T20 World Cup in Ahmedabad to retain their crown in type.
AFP Sport picks some memorable storylines from the match.
Double super-over drama
South Africa and Afghanistan performed out a tie adopted by a first-ever double tremendous over in a T20 World Cup to resolve the winner of their gripping group contest.
The drama unfolded after Afghanistan posted 187 all out in response to South Africa’s 187-6 in Ahmedabad.
The groups had been tied once more after a breathless first tremendous over earlier than South Africa gained off the ultimate ball of a heart-thumping second sudden-death showdown.
Afghanistan batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz wanted 4 sixes off 4 balls within the second tremendous over to tug off a win however solely managed three earlier than being caught out.
Shock Australia exit
Former champions Australia suffered a shock loss to the match’s shock packages Zimbabwe in a bunch sport after they had been dismissed for 146 whereas chasing 170 for victory.
With out injured quick bowlers Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, Australia suffered one other defeat to Sri Lanka to depart their marketing campaign hanging by a thread.
Zimbabwe’s rained-off match with Eire confirmed Australia the door because the 2021 winners did not make the second section for under the second time within the occasion’s historical past.
Australia signed off with a thrashing of Oman however skipper Mitchell Marsh stated: “It is a bitterly disenchanted altering room.”
Off-pitch tensions
There was an acrimonious and chaotic build-up to the match.
Pakistan vowed to boycott their group sport in opposition to arch-rivals India in assist of Bangladesh, who refused to play in India and didn’t participate within the competitors consequently.
They had been changed on the eleventh hour by Scotland.
After frantic negotiations with the Worldwide Cricket Council, the Pakistan authorities made a U-turn and the blockbuster match went forward in Colombo.
India beat Pakistan but it surely was tense on the sector and there have been no handshakes between the 2 captains and groups.
Samson’s redemption
India batsman Sanju Samson redeemed himself in a winner-takes-all contest in opposition to the West Indies as his unbeaten 97 helped the co-hosts chase down 196 and attain the semi-finals.
Samson was not within the authentic plans as opener however a lack of kind for Abhishek Sharma and the necessity to break a left-handed mixture on the high obtained the wicketkeeper-batter again for the Tremendous Eights.
After a cameo in opposition to Zimbabwe, Samson made the stage his personal at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens as India trusted his 50-ball knock laced with 12 fours and 4 sixes.
Samson, a religious Catholic, stated a silent prayer after he hit the successful boundary and struck one other match-winning knock of 89 within the semi-final in opposition to England, then starred as soon as extra within the remaining.
Allen’s document 100
New Zealand opener Finn Allen struck the match’s fastest-ever century, off 33 balls, to personal the stage within the first semi-final in opposition to South Africa.
South Africa, unbeaten till the knockout match, wilted within the face of Allen’s onslaught as he smacked 10 fours and eight sixes.
New Zealand romped to the victory goal of 170 with 7.1 overs to spare.
It was a brutal present of power-hitting by Allen, who surpassed the earlier quickest century document, in 47 balls, by West Indies’ Chris Gayle in 2016.
Emotional Italy make historical past
Debutants Italy, the lowest-ranked facet within the 20-team match, hammered Nepal by 10 wickets for a historic first win.
It left a number of the Italy gamers in tears of pleasure and sparked goals a couple of brilliant future for cricket within the football-mad nation.
“I do not suppose you will see many gamers cry on the sector after a win within the group phases,” stand-in captain Harry Manenti stated.
“I feel you have to admire what Italy cricket is bringing to the sport, perceive that the fervour is barely totally different with the Italians.”
