Last Updated on 5 years by Charbel Coorey
Top 10 Biggest Upsets in T20I Cricket History | Top Upsets in T20I Cricket | What is the biggest upset in T20 Internationals?
T20 cricket has divided opinion. Legends like Michael Holding have not grown to liking the game, whereas millions of other fans have.
But, whether you like it or not, T20 is well-and-truly here to stay. One impact of T20 cricket, compared to Test cricket in particular, is that it brings the two teams closer together. The shorter the match, the bigger the impact of momentum swings, and a number of T20Is have been testament to that.
Over 15 years of T20I cricket, there have been a number of eyebrow-raising results. From Associates to lower-ranked teams, this article will explore the top 10 upsets in T20 Internationals.
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Top 10 Upsets in T20I Cricket History:
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10. Zimbabwe beat India, 2nd T20I, 2015
India may have been missing their big stars when they traveled to Zimbabwe in 2015. But, after winning the first T20I of that series so easily (54 runs), not many would have expected that Indian team, many of whom play regularly in the IPL, to lose the second and final match of the series.
After all, Zimbabwe had uncertainty regarding their administration, were missing key players such as Brendan Taylor and Kyle Jarvis, and had only won three in 29 against Full Member teams. But, after Chamu Chibhaba hit a solid 67 off 51, they mustered up the effort to defend 145 in Harare en-route to a morale-boosting victory.
And, for good measure, Zimbabwe beat India again a year later in another upset.
9. Singapore beat Zimbabwe, T20I Tri-Series, 2019
It is not often Zimbabwe go into a T20 match as favourites. It was certainly the case in September 2019 as they took on Singapore in a Tri-Series also involving Nepal.
The Zimbabweans were a tad shaky against Nepal in their first match of the series. Singapore, on the wrong end of a Paras Khadka onslaught, were then thumped by Nepal. So, it would only make sense that Zimbabwe would beat Singapore, right?
Wrong. In one of the biggest shocks in T20I cricket, Singapore, with a good team effort, mustered a fine score of 181; a score which proved four runs too many for Zimbabwe. The result heaped further hurt on Zimbabwe, who were barred from global competitions by the ICC at the time due to interference from the government in their cricket proceedings.
8. Oman beat Ireland, World T20 2016 Qualifying Stage
Ireland have largely struggled for consistency in T20I cricket. Heading into the 2016 World T20, they found themselves in a tough group which also included Bangladesh and Netherlands for a spot in the main stage of the tournament.
So, the game they were well-and-truly expected to win was against Oman. Ranked 29th in the world and playing in their first World T20 match, Oman stunned their more accomplished opponents, chasing 157 with two wickets and balls to spare. A shock result.
7. Scotland beat Bangladesh, Only T20I, 2012
Given Bangladesh’s inconsistency in T20 cricket, Scotland would have felt quietly confident in a one-off T20I in 2012.
However, Scotland had to do something they had never done before: win a T20I against a Full Member nation. Led by Richie Berrington’s superb century, Scotland put on a clinic at The Hague, defending 162 with ease as they dismantled Bangladesh’s capable batting lineup which included Tamim Iqbal, Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim.
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6. Bangladesh beat West Indies, World T20 2007
With such great talent yet extremely disappointing returns, every opponent against Bangladesh in the mid-late 2000’s must have been wondering if it was going to be Mohammad Ashraful’s day.
Unfortunately for West Indies in the 2007 World T20, they found themselves at the wrong place at the wrong time. Ashraful, in partnership with another hot-and-cold player, Aftab Ahmed, pummelled the Windies bowlers all over Johannesburg.
In fact, Ashraful’s fifty of 20 balls was the then-fastest T20I fifty of all-time, lifting Bangladesh to a win with six wickets and two overs to spare.
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5. Hong Kong beat Bangladesh, World T20 2014 Qualifying Stage
Bangladesh have handed out upsets over the years. However, they have also been on the wrong end of the ledger, with a prevalent example being their shock loss to Hong Kong at home in the 2014 World T20 Qualifying Stage.
After losing 7/23 in 5.5 overs to be bundled out for 108, Bangladesh were in grave danger of missing the World T20 Super 10s at home. In the end, Hong Kong didn’t chase the target in the required 13.2 overs to get Nepal through, but that took nothing away from Hong Kong’s amazing achievement. They may have stuttered with the bat, chasing the total with two wickets in the bank, but it was a day no one associated with HK Cricket will ever forget.
4. Afghanistan beat West Indies, World T20 2016 Super 10s
It can be easy to forget how Afghanistan were still in their cricketing infancy as recently as 2016, such has been their remarkable rise.
After all, they beat West Indies 2-1 in a T20I series just a few months back. But, in 2016, they were still very much finding their feet as an Associate nation, so they were distant outsiders against a strong West Indies side. With just 123 to defend, their odds of victory had blown out even further.
But, their spin bowling display gave us a taste of what was to come in Afghanistan cricket. Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan led the way, with Amir Hamza not letting the Windies’ batsmen get going in a terrific bowling performance.
Make no doubt about it, this was a special win for Afghanistan against a side that went on to win that same tournament.
3. Netherlands beat England, World T20 2014 Super 10s
Netherlands achieved two remarkable feats in the 2014 World T20.
Firstly, they needed a miracle to qualify for the Super 10s. Against Ireland, they needed to chase down 190 in 14.2 overs to make it to the next round. Incredibly, they did so in 13.5 overs.
So, the fact they were even in the main stage was extraordinary. But, that wasn’t enough for the Dutch. They went on to thump England by 45 runs, dismantling their more-established opponents for just 88. Given England’s struggles, no result was out of the picture, but the manner of victory here was a shock to most.
2. Netherlands beat England, World T20 2009 Group Stage
Lightning had struck twice in 2014, after Netherlands pulled off an even bigger upset in 2009.
England were the hosts, gunning for their first ever global trophy. Netherlands had only played four T20Is in total before this match, and had to face the music at Lord’s. It was a mismatch on paper. Surely England would start their tournament off with a routine win?
Not quite. In one of the greatest upsets in history, the Associates stunned the hosts to leave Lord’s and the world stunned. They pulled England back after a strong century opening stand between Ravi Bopara and Luke Wright, but to chase 162 still needed some effort.
Led by Tom de Grooth, the Netherlands achieved one of their finest ever cricketing moments. They needed two to win off the final ball, and after Stuart Broad missed a run-out, Netherlands were in ecstasy.
1. Zimbabwe beat Australia, 2007 World T20 Group Stage
The biggest upset in T20 Internationals.
Australia, winners of the 50-over World Cup three times in a row, were expected to be too good for Zimbabwe, albeit in a different format. After all, how could one expect differently with Australia boasting a full-strength side with the likes of Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting and Brett Lee in their ranks?
After Australia slipped to 19/3, the Newlands crowd and the cricketing world started to wonder if Zimbabwe could actually pull it off. The Aussies recovered somewhat to post 138, but it proved too little as Zimbabwe, led by Brendan Taylor, who hit a four of the penultimate ball, pulled off a stunning upset with one ball remaining.
So, there are my top 10 upsets in T20I cricket. Do you have any others?
Thanks for reading!
Quiz: How well do you know the World T20? Answer 35 questions in 7 minutes!