Test cricket and ODIs have their own charm, but T20s offer an unmatched adrenaline rush. Over the years, we’ve witnessed several thrilling matches in this format that kept us on the edge of our seats until the very last ball.
Read on for a look at some of the most memorable international T20 matches. These had unexpected twists, dramatic finishes, and moments that left fans in utter disbelief. So, let’s find out which matches made the cut in our best T20 matches of all time discussion.
1) T20 World Cup Final 2007 – India v Pakistan
The first T20 World Cup final saw the biggest rivals in cricket go head-to-head, as India and Pakistan clashed at the Wanderers in Johannesburg.
After winning the toss, India elected to bat first and opener Gautam Gambhir smashed 75 off 54 balls, which included eight fours and two sixes.
Rohit Sharma chipped in with late runs, with 30 off 16 balls, as they reached 157-5 in their 20 overs.
Pakistan looked to be heading for a heavy defeat when they were reduced to 77-6 after 12 overs, with Misbah-ul-Haq holding the innings together with 43.
Having got to within six runs of victory, Misbah was caught at fine leg by Sreesanth and India celebrated success in the first T20 tournament.
2) T20 World Cup Final 2016 – West Indies v England
The 2016 T20 World Cup final saw the two previous winners meet at Eden Gardens, looking to become the first two-time winner of the event.
Despite losing both openers in the first two overs, England managed to set a score of 155-9, mainly with the help of a half-century from Joe Root.
Eoin Morgan’s men claimed the prize scalp of Chris Gayle for just four, leaving the Windies on 5-2. They were then reduced to 104-5 with just five overs remaining.
Marlon Samuels established himself as the wickets fell and eventually finished with an unbeaten 85 off 66 ball, but it was his team-mate Carlos Brathwaite who took the headlines.
Needing 19 off the final over, the all-rounder smash four consecutive sixes off the first four balls from Ben Stokes and the Windies – 9/1 to win 2021 World T20 tournament – celebrated in style.
3) West Indies v South Africa – January 2015
The Wanderers was again the venue for this fantastic match, which was the second game of a three-match series between South Africa and West Indies.
Having lost the first match, the Proteas looked nailed on to level the series after smashing an outstanding 231-7 in their 20 overs.
Faf du Plessis was the shining light for the hosts, as he led the way with 119 runs off just 56 to help set what looked like an unbeatable total.
The Windies, specifically Chris Gayle, had other ideas as the tourists produced a record-breaking T20 run chase.
Gayle hit 90 off 41 balls – with nine fours and seven sixes – and Marlon Samuels chipped in with 60 off 39, as the Windies reached 236-6 with four balls to spare.
4) India v West Indies – August 2016
The West Indies appear again, this time after setting a mammoth total and just denying a remarkable run chase from India.
Without Chris Gayle, the Windies were big underdogs going into this 20-over clash in Florida, but they showed their metal by posting 245-6.
Openers Johnson Charles and Evin Lewis stepped up in the absence of Gayle, hitting 79 and 100 respectively.
With opener Rohit Sharma smashing a quickfire 62, India got off to a fast start and, batting at four, KL Rahul went on to fire an unbeaten T20 century (110 not out).
But the Windies hung on to record a one-run victory, with the game in the record books as the highest aggregate run total in a single match at the time – 489 runs.
5) New Zealand v Australia – February 2010
This is the only match on this list to go to a Super Over, after both sides finished level after their 20 overs in Christchurch.
An unbeaten 116 from limited-overs expert Brendan McCullum put the Black Caps in pole position, as New Zealand, 8/1 to win the T20 World Cup later that year, made 214-6.
With Australia staying close to two-runs a ball through the chase, the match looked to have slipped from their grasp when Michael Clarke was run out for 67.
The Aussies needed 125 from the final 60 deliveries and Cameron White got them to within touching distance, before an impressive final over from Tim Southee led to the scores finishing level.
Southee then restricted Australia to 6-1 in their Super Over, before the hosts scored nine of four balls to seal a dramatic win.
6) T20 World Cup 2010 – India v Sri Lanka
A T20 World Cup semi-final spot was up for grabs when these two Asian rivals locked horns in St. Lucia. India started strong, reaching 119 for two after 14 overs. While it seemed like the men in blue might push for a big finish, it was Sri Lanka who took control of the game.
Thilan Thushara gave away 27 runs in his first two overs, but he made amends by allowing only 10 more in his final two. On top of that, he also sent Suresh Raina and Yuvraj Singh back to the pavilion. Thisara Perera and Lasith Malinga also bowled economical spells and contained India to 163 runs.
Sri Lanka were pushed to the backfoot once again as they lost openers Mahela Jayawardene and Sanath Jaysuria early in their chase. Tillakaratne Dilshan and Kumara Sangakara steadied the ship, but they had to leave the crease long before the Lankans appeared favourites to bag the win.
Angelo Matthews and Chamara Kapugedera made the difference in the final overs with some impeccable slog overs batting. Matthews scored 46 off 37 deliveries, while Kapugedara added 37 off 16.
Sri Lanka needed 25 to win off the final eight deliveries. Kapugedara hit Vinay Kumar for back-to-back sixes to make the equation to 13 off six balls. Mathews then hit a six off Ashish Nehra, bringing the target down to seven runs off five deliveries.
However, Nehra kept India in the game with some clever bowling, and Mathews was run out in a crucial moment. With Sri Lanka needing three runs off the final ball, Kapugedara stepped up and smashed another six to steer his team to a memorable victory.
7) T20 World Cup 2009 – England vs Netherlands
England fans flocked to Lord’s on June 5, 2009, to cheer for their team in the opening match of the 2009 T20 World Cup.
Confidence was high, with Paul Collingwood and his side expected to cruise to a comfortable victory against the Netherlands. However, little did they know they were about to witness one of cricket’s most iconic David-and-Goliath tales.
Ravi Bopara and Luke Wright laid a solid foundation with an excellent opening partnership for the home side. A 200+ score looked well within reach as Bopara departed for the stands with the scoreboard reading 102 for one after 11.2 overs. However, the English middle order failed to capitalise on the strong start, ultimately settling for a total of 162 for five.
Still, it was a formidable score to chase down, particularly for an inexperienced Dutch batting lineup.
However, the Netherlands displayed remarkable maturity throughout their innings. They maintained the required run rate to make sure the Duckworth-Lewis method wouldn’t spoil their party. England struggled to take wickets consistently, and as the final over approached, the team in orange needed just seven runs to seal the victory.
Ryan ten Doeschate and Edgar Schiferli survived the final over and a run-out attempt on the last delivery to edge their way to a brilliant four-wicket win.
