When was the last time the host team qualified for the men's T20 World Cup semifinals?
It was heartbreaking for the West Indies as the party in the Caribbean lost its soul when a wobbly South Africa held their nerves to beat the hosts and reach the semifinals of the 2024 T20 World Cup. The West Indies were knocked out in the process, as England are the other side from Group 2 to make it through to the next phase.
South Africa are unbeaten in the 2024 T20 World Cup so far, but then, the series of results has not been convincing. Even here, they were once again pushed to a corner despite dominating large periods of the match. Needing 23 runs from 24 balls, Tristan Stubbs looked for a wild hack across the line. He mistimed it and the West Indies got a sniff.
Keshav Maharaj then smacked one straight to long on and was sent back. However, Kagiso Rabada kept his calm and smashed a boundary over extra cover, bringing the target down to 5 runs off 6 balls. Marco Jansen then showed his temperament as he lofted a length delivery over long-on to seal the deal.
Incidentally, the last time a host nation was able to make it to the semifinals of a T20 World Cup was India back in 2016 when the West Indies ended their campaign with a dominating win in Mumbai.
What happened in Mumbai in the 2016 T20 World Cup?
India were the favorites in the tournament and the side seemed to peak at the right time. Virat Kohli was in his element while MS Dhoni was getting his moves right. It seemed to be just the right time to take on the West Indies. India had eased past Pakistan and beaten Australia in the quarter-finals, courtesy of a Virat Kohli special, and had the aura of a side that got their balance right.
Things were to get sour on that evening, as West Indies captain Daren Sammy sent India in to bat on a batting beauty in Mumbai. Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane provided a solid start as they added 62 runs in 7.2 overs, and in many ways, this was where India lost the initiative.
Rahane kept chugging along but was never able to take the game away from the West Indies. However, intensity returned to proceedings when the man in form, Virat Kohli, took center stage. He made his intentions clear as he picked gaps, ran hard, and cleared the boundary. His 89 off 47 balls had 11 boundaries and a six.
Kohli added 66 runs with Rahane and a 64-run stand with captain MS Dhoni. Despite a sluggish start, India finished at 192 for 2 and once again looked promising to make it to the finale.
The belief soared even further when Jasprit Bumrah knocked over Chris Gaye for 5. Marlon Samuels departed soon after for 8. At 19 for 2, Johnson Charles joined Lendl Simmons, and the pair sprinted along to add 97 runs for the third wicket.
India still had some life left when Kohli sent back Charles, and this was when West Indies needed 73 runs from the last 6 overs. However, a packed Wankhede was silenced when Andre Russell and Lendl Simmons put on an amazing display of power-hitting. Virat Kohli bowled the final over as West Indies whizzed past the target to set up the title clash with England.
And then, Carlos Brathwaite ensured the world remembered his name as the West Indies lifted their second T20 World Cup at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.