Top 5 run-outs of 2024 T20 World Cup ft. Heinrich Klaasen
India are basking in the glory of winning their second T20 World Cup after beating South Africa in a nail-biting thriller at the Kensington Oval in Barbados on June 29. They ended their 11-year trophy drought in ICC tournaments since winning the ICC Champions Trophy in 2013 under MS Dhoni.
This T20 World Cup brought a different dimension to the game. Unlike the massive scores we generally see in the shortest format of the game, the battle between bat and ball was much more intense, and the middling scores of 150-170 became a norm.
Right from the USA leg, the pitches took center stage with many pundits criticizing the ICC for staging the World Cup in the USA. Makeshift pitches at the Nassau County International Stadium in New York were a bowler’s paradise while some of the grounds in the Caribbean were challenging as well.
We witnessed a plethora of emotions from the players during the course of the T20 World Cup. Be it scoring runs, taking wickets, making catches or inflicting run-outs, the sense of the occasion was there for everyone to see. Afghanistan were the story of the tournament, qualifying for the semi-final for the first time.
Following India’s incredible T20 World Cup win, it's time to look at some of the finest run outs of the 2024 World Cup. Let's have a look at the top five runouts of the 2024 T20 World Cup:
#5 When Quinton de Kock ran out Axar Patel in the T20 World Cup final
It could have turned out to be the biggest run out in the tournament had South Africa gone on to win their maiden World Cup. Despite the Proteas ending on the wrong side, the run out by Quinton de Kock to send back Axar Patel at a crucial juncture of the game will stand as one of the very best in the competition.
India were reduced to 34-3, and one more wicket at that stage could have been disastrous for the Men in Blue. That's when Virat Kohli and Axar Patel stitched together a sensational 72-run stand to bail India out of the precarious situation. Axar batted superbly and provided the much-needed impetus in the middle overs.
In the 14th over bowled by Kagiso Rabada, Kohli failed to connect an attempted flick, and the ball rolled off his thigh pads to the keeper Quinton de Kock. Axar was looking for the single but realised late that the throw was coming to his end.
It was sloppy from the all-rounder, and De Kock seized on the opportunity and hurled a direct hit, catching Axar a few inches short of his crease. Luckily for India, the run out didn't cost India the game, as they eventually won by seven runs to win the T20 World Cup.
#4 Suryakumar Yadav’s back flick to dismiss Adil Rashid - T20 World Cup semi-final
It was redemption time for India as they thrashed defending T20 World Cup champions England by 68 runs in the second semi-final in Guyana. Batting first, India posted a comfortably above-par score of 171, and at the halfway stage, it seemed that India had the bowling attack to defend the total.
Rohit Sharma scored a brilliant half-century and was supported admirably by the likes of Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya, which propelled India to an eventual match-winning total. India ruled the roost in the powerplay after Axar Patel and Jasprit Bumrah's magic had reduced England to 35-3.
They kept staring down the barrel with Kuldeep Yadav wreaking havoc in the middle overs. England were reduced to 86-8, and there as no way back for them. However one of the moments of the game came in the 16th over when Suryakumar Yadav’s back flick from mid-on brought an end to Adil Rashid’s innings.
Rashid tried to tuck one good length delivery from Hardik Pandya towards the on side and set off for a non-existent single. Suryakumar, who was stationed at mid-on, quickly moved to the ball and flicked it straight onto the stumps, catching Rashid well short of his crease.
#3 A brilliant direct hit from Jos Buttler to send back Heinrich Klaasen - Super eight game
You cannot keep Jos Buttler out of the game for long. Even if he's not contributing enough with the bat, his leadership and wicket-keeping skills make him a pivotal member of the English white-ball sides. Buttler inflicted a terrific run out of Heinrich Klaasen in the T20 World Cup Super Eight game with South Africa.
South Africa started off brilliantly after being put into bat by Buttler. Quinton de Kock looked in superb touch and scored a stroke-filled 65 to lay the foundation for a blistering end to the innings. However, the Proteas lost their way a bit in the middle with wickets going down at regular intervals.
It was the penultimate delivery of the 14th over bowled by Mark Wood when the incident happened. Wood banged it short, and it was well down the leg side. Buttler failed to gather it clearly but recovered quickly enough to hit the bullseye at the non-striker's end.
Klaasen was looking for the single but was a bit casual in his approach, which led to his downfall. Despite the extraordinary piece of brilliance by Buttler, the Proteas had the final laugh, winning the T20 World Cup game by seven runs.
#2 When Heinrich Klaasen’s presence of mind saved South Africa's blushes - Group stage
For a team who nearly went on to lift their maiden T20 World Cup, losing against an associate nation against Nepal would have been an embarassment. Having won their first three group games against Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and the Netherlands, the clash against Nepal seemed like a formality.
However, it was anything but that, as Nepal ran the Proteas very close and eventually lost by a solitary run. Following a splendid bowling effort from Nepal, they restricted South Africa to an under-par score of 115.
Nepal were comfortably placed in their run chase in the 14th over, and a historic win was on the cards. An equation of 34 off 42 seemed to be a straightforward ask, but left-arm wrist spinner Tabraiz Shamsi turned the game with twin strikes. But despite his efforts, the game seemed to be in Nepal’s pocket in the final over.
With two required off the last two deliveries, Gulshan Jha missed the penultimate delivery off Ottneil Baartman. The hard length delivery worked for Baartman, and he stuck with the same length on the final delivery. Gulshan threw his hands at the ball without making any contact.
Quinton de Kock went for a direct hit towards the bowler's end, which hit Gulshan on the back and ricocheted towards Heinrich Klaasen at midwicket. Jha wasn't quite switched on to the occasion and felt that he would complete the run comfortably, but Klaasen’s underarm throw caught him short by a yard.
#1 When Anrich Nortje’s direct hit ended Andre Russell's onslaught in a virtual quarter-final
South Africa and West Indies locked horns against each other in a must-win winner-takes-all super eight game in Antigua, with a semi-final spot up for grabs. Aiden Markram won the toss and put the hosts in.The Caribbeans made a disastrous start, losing two quick wickets for just five.
The partnership between Kyle Mayers and Roston Chase steadied the ship, but another collapse from the 12th over helped the Proteas stamp their authority on the game.
From 86-2, they were reduced to 97-6 in the 17th over and werte staring down the barrel. However, big man Andre Russell came out firing on all cylinders and smashed a couple of sixes during his brief stay.
Akeal Hosein, who was at the other end, dabbed a back of a length delivery towards third man and set off for a single. It was Russell’s call who was desperate to hog the strike back.
Anrich Nortje took an aim and hits the bullseye, catching Russell just short of the crease. That turned out to be a decisive blow, as the Proteas knocked West Indies out of the T20 World Cup with a three-wicket victory