5 instances where underdogs took over in style
"A winning mindset can transform an underdog into a champion, conqueror and achiever. You’re a mindset away from winning your battles" - Assegid Habtewold
In the challenging world of sports, these words seem to reflect the reality.
Have you ever happened to ponder what's so special about the story of an underdog? Is it the story of pulling oneself up from the very bottom through determination irrespective of the odds faced and hostility endured? Is it the journey that encapsulates a resonance of relatable challenges between men or women on the ground and the one watching the game at home? A bit of both, perhaps?
In the cricketing world, there have been numerous instances when underdogs held their own and induced a success story when no one believed they could. They entered the ground with something to prove, faced the hostile crowds, gave everything they had and at the end, they fist-pumped the air in delight, roared with confidence and...smiled.
Let's take a look at 5 instances where an underdog team rose to the occasion and shocked the world.
#1 Men's cricket: Ireland vs England, World Cup 2011
The underdogs Ireland walked out to the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore to lock horns with the strong England side. And they left a lot of people awe-struck by the outcome at the end of Ireland's innings.
The Irish bowlers failed to deliver as the England team weaved a giant total of 328 runs batting first, courtesy of three magnificent half-centuries hammered by Kevin Pietersen, Jonathan Trott and Ian Bell.
At the start of their innings, Ireland struggled against the English bowlers - they were 111/5 in 24.2 overs. Then came a storm...the Kevin O'Brien storm.
Kevin smoked the English bowlers north, south and center with some thunderous strikes all over the ground. He reached his century in 50 deliveries, a record for the fastest hundred in a World Cup. He finished with 113 runs in 63 balls and stymied England's hopes of victory.
At No. 7 and 8, Alex Cusack and John Mooney struck crucial knocks of 47 and 33 runs respectively. In the end, Ireland won the game with five balls to spare.
It was truly a result that no one had seen coming.