5 massive records already broken in 2024 T20 World Cup ft. Lockie Ferguson's magical maidens
The group stage of the 2024 T20 World Cup has been a revelation in entertaining the audience with low-scoring thrillers and a few high-scoring encounters. Few associate countries outsmarted the Test-playing nations, while some were very close to making history.
Teams like Pakistan, New Zealand and Sri Lanka faced elimination, while USA, Afghanistan and Bangladesh sealed the place in the second round with impressive performances. On the other hand, India, Australia, England, South Africa, and West Indies are other formidable teams, who will look to continue their dominance in the Super 8.
With the T20 World Cup 2024 heading to its crucial stage, let's take a look at the five records already broken in the tournament.
#1 Highest powerplay score in Men's T20 World Cup history
On Monday against Afghanistan, West Indies created history by posting the highest powerplay score of 92/1 in T20 World Cup history and fourth-highest overall.
After the dismissal of Brandon King in the second over, Nicholas Pooran arrived at No. 3. Johnson Charles' sublime striking provided confidence to Pooran, who went all guns blazing in the fourth over. The southpaw slammed Azmatullah Omarzai for three sixes and two fours, with the over accounting for 36 runs, which is now the joint-most expensive over in T20Is.
The duo continued their strong showing against Rashid Khan and Naveen-ul-Haq, and reached 92 at the end of the powerplay. Pooran (98) emerged as the top contributor to help West Indies post 218, as they ultimately won by 104 runs.
#2 Quickest-ever run-chase in T20 World Cup
On the verge of facing an exit from T20 World Cup 2024, England produced a sensational performance to record the quickest-ever run-chase in the tournament's history against Oman on June 14 in Antigua.
The likes of Adil Rashid (4/11), Jofra Archer (3/12) and Mark Wood (3/12) were impressive to bundle out Oman for a paltry 47. Then, Jos Buttler (24* off 8) led the charge to reach the target in just 19 balls. They got past Sri Lanka, who chased down 40 in 30 balls in the 2014 T20 World Cup.
#3 Lockie Ferguson creates history with four maidens
Blackcaps pacer Lockie Ferguson was spot on with his line and lengths to finish with figures of 4-4-0-3 against Papua New Guinea. This was the first occasion of a bowler delivering four maidens in the T20 World Cup history. He secured wickets of Assad Vala, Sese Bau and Chad Soper.
Previously, only Saad Bin Zafar bowled four maidens in a T20I game, where he returned with figures of 4-4-0-2 in the 2021 Americas Region Qualifier clash against Panama in Coolidge.
#4 India defended their lowest T20I score
On June 9, India faced their arch-rivals Pakistan in New York. Rishabh Pant (42) top-scored for the Indian team, before the collapse resulted in them managing to compile a total of only 119 on the board.
Then, Jasprit Bumrah took the important wicket of Babar Azam, which opened the floodgates for the Men in Blue. In the middle overs, Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel kept it tight with their economical spells and breakthroughs, while Bumrah came back to send Mohammad Rizwan back to the hut as well.
With 18 required off the final over, Arshdeep Singh stuck to his plan and helped India secure a six-run victory and defend their lowest-ever T20I score. Previously, India defended 138 against Zimbabwe in 2016.
#5 USA pull off their highest successful T20I chase
Hosts USA have had an exemplary campaign in the T20 World Cup 2024. In their debut campaign, the USA secured a place in the Super 8, with two wins and five points in four games.
In their first game of the showpiece event at Dallas, the bowling unit went on to concede 194 against Canada. Then, they were at 66/2 in eight overs, and needed a strong push to seal the chase. The pair of Andries Gous (65) and Aaron Jones (94*) were sublime with their performances to secure the biggest chase in T20Is.
Previously, the Monank Patel-led side chased down the target of 170 against Canada in April 2024.