T20I knocks that still resulted in defeat
The shortest format of the game accounts for individual brilliance the most. As the game moves at breakneck speed a small little cameo too changes the game decisively. Hence batsmen who conjure up individual brilliance often end up helping their side win the game. But there have been occasions wherein despite the heroics the sides have failed to win the game.
We look at 5 such great T20I knocks that still resulted in defeat:
#5 Kane Williamson – 85 vs Australia
Australia had won the toss in the 2021 T20 World Cup final putting the kiwis into bat. New Zealand had to post a competitive score to challenge the powerful Aussie batting lineup. Kane Williamson walked in early as Martin Guptill was dismissed early.
New Zealand’s best batsman put on quite a show in Dubai. He stroked 85 off 48 balls to take New Zealand to 172. The total eventually proved to be too little as the Aussies romped home on a dewy night in Dubai.
#4 Chris Gayle – 117 vs South Africa
He lit up the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007 with an unparalleled opening blitz. Chris Gayle smashed a century on the opening night of the tournament. He took on the bowlers of the home team smashing them to all parts of the ground. Gayle notched up 117 runs off just 57 balls to take West Indies to an imposing total of 205. But it didn’t prove to be enough as South Africa raced home with 14 balls in the bank.
#3 KL Rahul – 110 vs West Indies
In what was essentially a game of outscoring the opposition. West Indies thanks to Evin Lewis racked up a massive score of 246. At halftime, nobody would have given India any semblance of a chance. But KL Rahul had other ideas. He played an incredible inning that almost took India over the line.
Rahul’s knock was so special that at one stage India was the favourite to win the game. He remained unbeaten on 110 off just 51 balls. India needed 2 off the last ball and ended up falling short.
#2 Liam Livingstone – 103 vs Pakistan
It was this knock that announced Liam Livingstone’s arrival in world cricket. England was chasing an improbable score of 232 against a well-rounded Pakistani bowling attack. Livingstone kept going ball after ball challenging the visitors with every mighty hit. He hit his way to 103 off just 43 balls. England’s innings was all about Livingstone. They fell short but a T20I star was born.
#1 Suryakumar Yadav – 117 vs England
After having lost the series already, English batters put on an exhibition batting first in the 3rd T20I. India chasing a mammoth score of 217 found themselves with three wickets down inside the powerplay. Suryakumar Yadav then unfurled his complete range to give England a mighty scare.
He got out in the penultimate over but not before reaching his maiden T20I hundred. SKY as he is called hit 117 off just 55 balls. The next best score was 28 in the innings. It was a showreel of what has been one of the finest individual T20 performances in a calendar year.
