Reliving previous opening matches from World T20s

Chris Gayle scored a hundred in the very first World T20 gameThe ICC World T20 2016 would kick off on March 15 with the hosts India set to take on New Zealand at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur.While Idia would look to continue their excellent form in T20I and beat New Zealand for the first time in the shortest format of the game, the Kiwis would try to upset the hosts and begin the tournament on a high.Over the years, in the previous editions of the World T20, we have seen some exciting opening contests to kick off the biannual tournament, some of which have been the trendsetters for the rest of the league.In this slideshow, we try to relive the opening matches from the five previous editions of the World T20.

#1 World T20 2007: West Indies vs South Africa

Chris Gayle’s century in the World T20 2007 opener was nullified by Herschelle Gibbs’ 90

The very first game of the very first edition of the ICC World T20, in 2007, clearly pronounced the possibilities that came with the shortest format of the game.

The hosts South Africa took on West Indies in what turned out to be a run-fest, that saw a target in excess of 200 being chased down for the first time in a T20I.

Batting first, West Indies rode on Chris Gayle’s whirlwind century, as he smashed 117 off 57 with 7 fours and 10 sixes, to post a mammoth 205/6 on the board in their 20 overs.

Many would have thought that the game was over right after the first innings, but Herschelle Gibbs, who knew a thing or two about chasing world record targets, decided otherwise.

Gibbs’ 55-ball 90 comprising 14 fours and 2 sixes, combined with Justin Kemp’s 22-ball 46 and further helped by the 28 extras that the Caribbean side gave away proved out to be the right ingredient to hunt down the target of 206.

It was a complete nightmare for the bowlers, however, as Shaun Pollock and Ravi Rampaul went for 52 runs in their 4 overs.