When was the last time two Associate nations beat a Test-playing team in a T20 World Cup?
The T20 World Cup 2024 has come to life in the last couple of days. After a few listless games during the week, there has been a sudden spike in enthusiasm after the performance of the Associate nations against Test-playing ones.
June 6, 2024, will be a red letter in the history of USA cricket. Against all odds, the USA beat Pakistan, the runners-up of the previous edition of the T20 World Cup. The USA kept Pakistan on the back foot for a major part of the game and emerged victorious in the super over.
Canada turned the tables by beating Ireland on June 7, 2024, in New York. The Irishmen failed to chase a target of 138 and went down by a margin of 12 runs, handing over Canada their maiden T20 World Cup win.
It has been 15 years since two Associate nations beat Test-playing nations twice in a T20 World Cup. The said defeats were during the T20 World Cup 2009 in England when the Netherlands beat the hosts in the tournament opener and Ireland beat Bangladesh thereafter in the same edition.
On that note, here is a look at the said two matches played during the T20 World Cup 2009:
#1 England Vs Netherlands:
England, the hosts of the 2009 edition of the T20 World Cup 2009, suffered a shocking defeat in the tournament opener at the iconic Lord's.
Batting first, England managed to score a moderate total of 162 in 20 overs courtesy of a brilliant half-century (71) by Luke Wright.
Despite losing regular wickets during the run chase, the Netherlands were always on par with the required run rate and required 17 runs from the last two overs. Ryan Sidebottom conceded 10 runs in the 19th over and the Netherlands were left to chase seven from the final six deliveries.
Stuart Broad, bowling the final over, conceded five runs from the first five balls as the equation came down to two from the final ball, as the Dutch players looked to create history. A comedy of errors led to overthrows on the last ball and the Netherlands beat England at the home of cricket, thereby starting their T20 World Cup 2009 on a positive note. Edgar Schiferli was the unlikely hero for the Netherlands.
#2 Ireland Vs Bangladesh:
The seventh match of the T20 World Cup 2009 at Nottingham witnessed Ireland upstaging Bangladesh. In 2009, Ireland hadn't acquired the status of a Test nation and were considered an Associate nation by the ICC. Thus the victory against Bangladesh was indeed an incredible achievement in the history of Irish cricket.
Trent Johnston was at his very best with the ball during the game and picked up three wickets for 20 runs in his four overs. His victims included Bangladesh opener Zunaed Siddique, the opponent skipper Mohammad Ashfaful, and Shakib Al Hasan.
Bangladesh never recovered from the early loss of wickets and scored an under-par 137 in their 20 overs.
Niall O'Brien played a composed innings of 40 and guided his team to a winning position. Kevin O'Brien played the perfect role of a finisher and was unbeaten on 39 from 17 balls as Ireland chased the target with 10 balls to spare.