The TEN greatest T20 upset victories

The United States of America's emphatic victory over Pakistan at the 2024 T20 World Cup has left cricket fans stunned. But where does the victory fit in among the greatest T20 upset victories? All Sport counts down the top ten. 2024, Ireland defeat Pakistan by 5 wickets Maybe the loss to the USA shouldn't have come as such a surprise, given just months earlier, Pakistan had lost to Ireland in Dublin. They might have ultimately recovered the three-match series to take out Game 2 and 3 against the Irish, but Ireland chasing 182 in the first game of the series wasn't on Pakistan's list of things to do in preparation for the World Cup. Despite Babar Azam leading the way with a well-made 57, the bowling attack struggled, with only Shaheen Shah Afridi going at under seven runs per over. Andy Balbirnie led the way for Ireland, belting 77 from 55 balls to secure a famous victory. 2022, Namibia defeat Sri Lanka by 55 runs (T20 World Cup) In the old format of the T20 World Cup, teams outside the top eight had to qualify to gain access to the tournament. Maybe speaking to the downfall of Sri Lankan cricket, that's exactly where the the sub-continent nation found themselves. And didn't they make a mess of one of their matches against Namibia at a nearly empty Kardinia Park in Geelong. It's only so low on this list because of the fall of Sri Lankan cricket, but after conceding 163 with Namibia led by Jan Frylinck (who made 44 off 28 balls), the Lions' batting folded, with Dasun Shanaka the only man to look like getting going as he hit 29 off 23. Sri Lanka were ultimately knockedover for 108. Ultimately, Sri Lanka recovered to qualify for the main part of the tournament where they won two of their five games. 2015, Zimbabwe defeat India by 10 runs The first, but certainly not the last time Zimbabwe will feature on this list. It's not the last time a Zimbabwe-India game will feature either. This comes in first though, simply because India weren't at full strength, but even then, they were expected to hand the Zimbabweans a pasting in Harare. That's not the way it happened though, with a well-composed 67 off 51 balls from Chamu Chibhabha getting the hosts to 7 for 145 from their 20 overs. India, in reply, were off to a slow start as stand-in captain Ajinkya Rahane was dismissed for 4. A 53-run partnership between Murali Vijay and Robin Uthappa (who made 42 off 25 balls) had India well in control at 2 for 57 in the seventh over, but from there, wickets fell regularly and India wound up 9 for 135 off their 20 overs. 2007, Zimbabwe defeat Australia by 5 wickets (T20 World Cup) Australia and T20 World Cups simply didn't mix in the early days of the format. Despite having a team bristling with talent, including Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey, on this occasion, they could only make 138 against Zimbabwe as Elton Chigumbura managed to pick up 3 for 20 from 3 overs to lead the attack. Only Brad Hodge (35 off 22) and Andrew Symons (33 off 25) could get things ticking for the Australians in this one, held in Cape Town. In reply, Zimbabwe controlled their innings beautifully. Brendan Taylor led the way, scoring 60 not out from 45 balls, while he received late back up from Hamilton Masakadza (27 off 28), with Zimbabwe eventually passing Australia with just a single ball to spare and five wickets in hand. 2014, Netherlands defeat England by 45 runs (T20 World Cup) The second of two T20 World Cup wins for the Netherlands over England, this one coming in Bangladesh during the 2024 tournament. And it was a smash up. Despite only managing 133 from their 20 overs, the score was always going to be tough to mow down on a tricky pitch after Wesley Barresi (48 off 45) and Stephan Myburgh (39 off 31) led the way for the Dutch. England never got going in response. Ravi Bopara top-scored with 18 and England were knocked over for just 88 as both Logan van Beek and Mudassar Bukhari picked up three wickets a piece. 2016, Zimbabwe defeat India by 2 runs We mentioned earlier that Zimbabwe and Ireland would feature on this list again, and it was just the next year that Zimbabwe once again got the better of the giants in Harare. This time, India had the likes of MS Dhoni in their side, but still couldn't find a way over the African nation. Zimbabwe this time leaned on Elton Chigumbura to take them to 170, with the lower-order batsman saving an innings that had earlier looked in a difficult spot by hitting 54 off 26 balls not out. A young Jasprit Bumrah was the pick of the bowlers with 2 for 24 from his 4 overs. India again lost regular wickets in the reply, with Manish Pandey managing 48 of 35 balls, but they couldn't find a way over the line, finishing just two runs short. 2009, Netherlands defeat England by 4 wickets (T20 World Cup) England hosted the T20 World Cup in 2009, and had a dismal tournament. While they managed to top their first stage group, it came down to net run rate after a surprise loss to the Netherlands at home. Playing at Lord's, the home of cricket, England were expected to dominate. A team featuring Luke Right, Ravi Bopara, Eoin Morgan Adil Rashi, Stuart Broad and James Anderson under captain Paul Collingwood managed to make 162 from their 20 overs. But what followed was as dramatic as it was disastrous for the tournament hosts, with the Netherlands riding the chase by the seat of their pants the whole way, eventually winning on the final ball with four wickets left in hand after Tom de Grooth belted 49 from 30 balls. 2023, UAE defeat New Zealand by 7 wickets You could argue the United Arab Emirates knocking over New Zealand should probably be higher on this list. In fact, the only reason it isn't is simply down to the face the Black Caps named a well under full strength side. Despite that, they were still expected to record a comfortable win in Dubai, as they did in both the first and third T20. That's not the way it played out though, with New Zealand only managing 142 from their 20 overs, and it would have been a whole lot less if not for Mark Chapman's 63 off 46 balls. 2022, Netherlands defeat South Africa (T20 World Cup) The Dutch outfit have featured a few times throughout this list with wins over England, but there is no better achievement than them knocking over South Africa in Adelaide during the 2022 T20 World Cup. The men in orange, playing in unfamiliar conditions, managed to post 158 with the bat on the back of Colin Ackermann's 41 off 26 and Tom Cooper's 35 off 19 balls. It was a score that should have been chase-able for the Proteas though against a team like the Netherlands, but they simply couldn't get going with the bat in hand. Only Temba Bavuma, Rilee Rossouw and Heinrich Klaasen made it past 20, while the bowlers were economical the whole way, led by Fred Klaassen (2 for 20 off 4) and Brandon Glover (3 for 9 off 2). South Africa simply lost too many wickets, and wound up 13 runs short. 2024, USA defeat Pakistan (super over, T20 World Cup) This is really the greatest T20 upset in history. The USA, who have to date beaten only Bangladesh of the Test playing nations in a T20, managed to get the better of Pakistan in a super over. Pakistan managed to make 159 from their 20 overs in Dallas, a score that should have been very defendable. Shadab Khan led the way with a blazing 40 off 25 balls, while Babar Azam played a guiding hand with a run a ball 44 from the top of the order. Nosthush Kenjige was the best of the bowlers, picking up 3/30. But what Pakistan didn't count on was losing control as things got tighter, and all of the USA batsmen getting starts. Captain Monank Patel managed a half-century, while Andries Gous, Aaron Jones and Steven Taylor all made runs, with Nitish Kumar seeing things through to the end with Jones. The super over that followed was a train-wreck for Pakistan, with Mohammad Amir bowling a somewhat ridiculous seven wides for the Pakistan outfit to give the game away.

The TEN greatest T20 upset victories

The USA, Netherlands and Namibia are among the countries to feature.

1. 2024, USA defeat Pakistan (super over, T20 World Cup)

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