Samuels or Brathwaite? Gul or Afridi? Vote for the greatest T20 World Cup performance
Two epic West Indian performances in World Cup finals, and two Pakistanis stepping up on their way to glory in 2009
ESPNcricinfo staff
19-Oct-2022
Which is your pick for the greatest performance in the history of the men's T20 World Cup?
Fans have voted in the round of 16 match-ups to decide the eight quarter-finalists. We have two of them paired in each match-up. The second set of quarter-finals is here.
Voting for these match-ups has ended. Carlos Brathwaite's 3-23 & 34* and Shahid Afridi's 51 & 2-16 move to the semi-finals.
Marlon Samuels' 78 & 1-15 vs Carlos Brathwaite's 3-23 & 34*
78 (56) & 1-15 vs SL | Marlon Samuels | Colombo (RPS), 2012
Marlon Samuels produced one of the finest T20I innings ever on the biggest stage of them all. West Indies were 14 for 2 after the powerplay and 32 for 2 after ten overs, but on a night when their big T20 guns failed to fire, Samuels shone the brightest to turn the tide. Samuels' assault, despite wickets falling around him, was breath-taking, and included five sixes off Lasith Malinga. He then conceded only 15 off his four overs as West Indies won their first T20 World Cup title.
Marlon Samuels produced one of the finest T20I innings ever on the biggest stage of them all. West Indies were 14 for 2 after the powerplay and 32 for 2 after ten overs, but on a night when their big T20 guns failed to fire, Samuels shone the brightest to turn the tide. Samuels' assault, despite wickets falling around him, was breath-taking, and included five sixes off Lasith Malinga. He then conceded only 15 off his four overs as West Indies won their first T20 World Cup title.
3-23 & 34*(10) vs ENG | Carlos Brathwaite | Kolkata, 2016
Nineteen to win in the final over. Four balls, four sixes. "Carlos Brathwaite, remember the name"! Those hits at Eden Gardens will forever remain part of cricketing folklore. What gets forgotten is that Brathwaite was effective with the ball too: he picked up the key wickets of Jos Buttler and Joe Root to finish with figures of 4-0-23-3. He then came in at No. 8 with West Indies 107 for 6 in 15.3 chasing 156, and took them to their second title in the company of Marlon Samuels.
Nineteen to win in the final over. Four balls, four sixes. "Carlos Brathwaite, remember the name"! Those hits at Eden Gardens will forever remain part of cricketing folklore. What gets forgotten is that Brathwaite was effective with the ball too: he picked up the key wickets of Jos Buttler and Joe Root to finish with figures of 4-0-23-3. He then came in at No. 8 with West Indies 107 for 6 in 15.3 chasing 156, and took them to their second title in the company of Marlon Samuels.
Umar Gul's 5-6 vs Shahid Afridi's 51 & 2-16
5-6 vs NZ | Umar Gul | The Oval, 2009
New Zealand were 72 for 4 when Umar Gul, Pakistan's death-overs specialist, came on in the 13th over, and took five of the next six wickets to knock out the opposition for 99. Gul's impact was instantaneous and devastating: he dismissed Scott Styris and Peter McGlashan with his third and fourth deliveries, sent Nathan McCullum's leg stump cartwheeling in his next over, and ended with the dismissals of James Franklin and Kyle Mills - again off consecutive balls - in his third over.
New Zealand were 72 for 4 when Umar Gul, Pakistan's death-overs specialist, came on in the 13th over, and took five of the next six wickets to knock out the opposition for 99. Gul's impact was instantaneous and devastating: he dismissed Scott Styris and Peter McGlashan with his third and fourth deliveries, sent Nathan McCullum's leg stump cartwheeling in his next over, and ended with the dismissals of James Franklin and Kyle Mills - again off consecutive balls - in his third over.
51 (34) & 2-16 vs SA | Shahid Afridi | Nottingham, 2009
Pakistan's sole T20 world title had their starman at its heart, with Afridi delivering back-to-back memorable all-round performances in the semi-final and the final, but the first of those two acts was more impressive. Against an in-form South Africa, Afridi's innings was a blend of aggression and maturity, keeping a hostile attack at bay, and gave Pakistan 149 to defend. He followed it up with a frugal spell, which included the wickets of Herschelle Gibbs and AB de Villiers, as Pakistan snuck home by seven runs.
Pakistan's sole T20 world title had their starman at its heart, with Afridi delivering back-to-back memorable all-round performances in the semi-final and the final, but the first of those two acts was more impressive. Against an in-form South Africa, Afridi's innings was a blend of aggression and maturity, keeping a hostile attack at bay, and gave Pakistan 149 to defend. He followed it up with a frugal spell, which included the wickets of Herschelle Gibbs and AB de Villiers, as Pakistan snuck home by seven runs.