The T20 World Cup has been the stage for some of the most exciting and memorable cricket matches in history. From stunning batting displays to miraculous bowling performances, the tournament has always been full of surprises. One such surprise came in the 2014 T20 World Cup, when Sri Lanka faced off against the Netherlands and set the record for the lowest total in T20 World Cup history.
The match took place on March 24, 2014, at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong, Bangladesh. Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat first, hoping to set a solid target for the Netherlands to chase. However, things didn't go as planned for the Sri Lankan side.
The Netherlands bowlers started off strong, keeping the Sri Lankan batsmen in check and not allowing them to score freely. The pressure mounted on the Sri Lankan side, and soon they started losing wickets at regular intervals. The Netherlands bowlers were relentless, and they didn't let up until they had bowled out the entire Sri Lankan team for a paltry total of 99 runs.
The Sri Lankan batting collapse was led by Ahsan Malik, who picked up four wickets for just 19 runs in his four overs. He was supported by Timm van der Gugten, who took three wickets for 30 runs in his four overs. The Sri Lankan batsmen had no answer to the bowling attack of the Netherlands, and they were all out in just 18.4 overs.
Team | Score | Opposition | Ground | Match Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
Netherlands | 39 | Sri Lanka | Chattogram | March 24, 2014 |
Netherlands | 44 | Sri Lanka | Sharjah | October 22, 2021 |
West Indies | 55 | England | Dubai (DSC) | October 23, 2021 |
Scotland | 60 | Afghanistan | Sharjah | October 25, 2021 |
New Zealand | 60 | Sri Lanka | Chattogram | March 31, 2014 |
Ireland | 68 | West Indies | Providence | April 30, 2010 |
Hong Kong | 69 | Nepal | Chattogram | March 16, 2014 |
Bangladesh | 70 | New Zealand | Kolkata | March 26, 2016 |
Afghanistan | 72 | Bangladesh | Dhaka | March 16, 2014 |
Kenya | 73 | New Zealand | Durban | September 12, 2007 |
The Netherlands, in response, chased down the target with ease, winning the match by 6 wickets with 6.1 overs to spare. The win was historic for the Netherlands, as it was their first ever win over a Test-playing nation in a T20 international.
The match between Sri Lanka and the Netherlands set the record for the lowest total in T20 World Cup history, a record that still stands today. The Sri Lankan team was left stunned and disappointed by their performance, while the Netherlands celebrated one of their greatest victories in cricket history.
The match was a reminder that anything can happen in T20 cricket. It doesn't matter which team is the favorite or the underdog; on any given day, any team can win. The Sri Lankan team learned this lesson the hard way, and they will be hoping to bounce back stronger in future tournaments.
In conclusion, the match between Sri Lanka and the Netherlands in the 2014 T20 World Cup will always be remembered for the record-breaking low total set by Sri Lanka. It was a remarkable performance by the Netherlands, who showed that they can compete with the best teams in the world. Cricket fans will be hoping for more such upsets and surprises in future T20 World Cups.
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