Hussey or Samuels, Afridi or Hales - vote for the greatest T20 World Cup performance
Two of the finest ever innings in the format, England's first ever T20I hundred, and Afridi the allrounder steps up for Pakistan
ESPNcricinfo staff
15-Oct-2022
Which performance, according to you, is the greatest in the history of the men's T20 World Cup? We've shortlisted 16 outstanding entries, and will be pairing two each in match-ups for fans to vote on until we find a winner.
Voting for these match-ups has ended. Marlon Samuels' 78 & 1-15 and Shahid Afridi's 51 & 2-16 move to the quarter-finals.
Michael Hussey's 60* vs Marlon Samuels' 78 & 1-15
60*(24) vs PAK | Michael Hussey | Gros Islet, 2010
It still ranks among the greatest heists in T20 cricket. Hussey came in at 105 for 5 in the 13th over chasing Pakistan's 191 and he did the usual Hussey things: running hard, placing the ball infuriatingly well. With 34 needed off two overs, he took two leg-side boundaries off Mohammad Amir that sandwiched four hard-run doubles. And then came that last over from ace Saeed Ajmal: pulled six off the second ball, six down the ground the next, sliced cut for four, and another six - his sixth of the innings - to finish it off with a ball to spare.
It still ranks among the greatest heists in T20 cricket. Hussey came in at 105 for 5 in the 13th over chasing Pakistan's 191 and he did the usual Hussey things: running hard, placing the ball infuriatingly well. With 34 needed off two overs, he took two leg-side boundaries off Mohammad Amir that sandwiched four hard-run doubles. And then came that last over from ace Saeed Ajmal: pulled six off the second ball, six down the ground the next, sliced cut for four, and another six - his sixth of the innings - to finish it off with a ball to spare.
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78 (56) & 1-15 vs SL | Marlon Samuels | Colombo (RPS), 2012
Samuels produced one of the finest T20I innings ever seen on the biggest stage of 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, never mind the wickets falling around him, was breathtaking, 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.
Samuels produced one of the finest T20I innings ever seen on the biggest stage of 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, never mind the wickets falling around him, was breathtaking, 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.
Shahid Afridi's 51 (34) & 2-16 vs Alex Hales' 116*
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 both the semi-final and the final, but the first of those two acts was the more stellar one. Against an in-form and clinical South Africa side, Afridi's innings was a deadly blend of aggression and maturity, keeping a hostile attack at bay, and giving 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 both the semi-final and the final, but the first of those two acts was the more stellar one. Against an in-form and clinical South Africa side, Afridi's innings was a deadly blend of aggression and maturity, keeping a hostile attack at bay, and giving 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.
116*(64) vs SL | Alex Hales | Chattogram, 2014
England had never chased a score of 190 and none of their batters had ever reached three figures in T20Is until the night Hales produced a breathtaking hundred, handing eventual winners Sri Lanka their only defeat of the tournament (and England their only win). England slid to 0 for 2 at the end of the first over, and the asking rate was around 12 per over for more than half of the chase, but victory was achieved with four balls to spare. England needed 73 from the last six overs. Hales smashed 54 off those runs, from just 20 balls.
England had never chased a score of 190 and none of their batters had ever reached three figures in T20Is until the night Hales produced a breathtaking hundred, handing eventual winners Sri Lanka their only defeat of the tournament (and England their only win). England slid to 0 for 2 at the end of the first over, and the asking rate was around 12 per over for more than half of the chase, but victory was achieved with four balls to spare. England needed 73 from the last six overs. Hales smashed 54 off those runs, from just 20 balls.