Tie matches are the most fun thrillers in T20 cricket!
"The scores are level. We’re going to have a super over!" This phrase is often heard in limited-overs cricket when a match ends in a tie. While T20I cricket has seen its fair share of dramatic ties, such thrilling conclusions are rare in the T20 World Cup. However, there have been a few breathtaking matches in the T20 World Cup that ended in a tie and were decided by super overs. Here, we'll look back at those tied matches in T20 World Cup history that had thrilling Super Over finishes.
First on the list is the group-stage match between arch-rivals India and Pakistan in the inaugural T20 World Cup. India, batting first, were struggling at 36 for 4 until Robin Uthappa's fifty stabilised the innings. Contributions from MS Dhoni (33) and Irfan Pathan (20) pushed the total to 141. Pakistan, after a shaky start, seemed on track but lost crucial wickets, leaving them at 47 for 4. Misbah-ul-Haq kept hopes alive but was run out on the last ball, resulting in a tie. The match was decided by a bowl-out, where Indian bowlers hit the stumps three times while Pakistan missed all attempts, giving India a memorable victory.
The 2012 T20 World Cup featured not one but two thrilling ties, the first involving hosts Sri Lanka and New Zealand. New Zealand batted first, posting a challenging 174 runs thanks to valuable contributions from their top four batters. In response, Sri Lanka's openers got off to a flying start with an 80-run partnership. However, wickets fell at crucial moments, and the match ended in a tie. A super over ensued, with Sri Lanka scoring 13 runs. New Zealand needed 14 to win but fell short by 7 runs as their batters struggled to connect, handing victory to the hosts.
Just four days after their match against Sri Lanka, New Zealand faced another tie, this time against the West Indies. New Zealand won the toss and bowled first, with Doug Bracewell (3/31) and Tim Southee (3/12) limiting the Windies to 139 runs. In reply, New Zealand's innings saw regular wickets fall, but Ross Taylor's gutsy 62 not out off 40 balls kept them in the game. Needing 2 runs on the last ball, Bracewell was run out, resulting in a tie. In the Super Over, Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels secured a win for the West Indies.
After over a decade, fans witnessed a fourth tied match in the 2024 T20 World Cup. Oman and Namibia played a gripping, low-scoring game in Bridgetown. Oman, batting first, managed only 109 runs as Ruben Trumpelmann (4/21) and David Wiese (3/28) dominated. Namibia faced early setbacks, but Nikolaas Davin (24) and Jan Frylinck (45) kept them in contention. Oman’s bowlers ensured a tie. In the Super Over, Namibia set a 22-run target, with Wiese and Gerhard Erasmus hitting big shots. Wiese then bowled, conceding only 10 runs, securing a thrilling win for Namibia.
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