2012 http://www.senore.com/Cricket/ICC-World-Cup-2011-c100625 World T20: Top ten impressive performances – Part II
Continued from Part I...
Brendon McCullum (123, New Zealand v http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Bangladesh-c747, September 21, Pallekele)
New Zealand batsmen’s ability to play a quality spin, especially on the turning subcontinent tracks, has often been questioned. But http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754’s opening World T20 match against Bangladesh, categorically addressing those concerns.
McCullum hit 123 runs from just 58 balls, plundering 11 muscular boundaries and seven towering sixes, setting up a comprehensive 59-run win over the Bengali Tigers. The dazzling effort made the New Zealander the first batsman to score two hundreds in T20 International cricket.
Umar Gul (32, Pakistan v South Africa, September 28, Colombo)
Though http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Umar-Gul-c94604’s blistering knock has been rated as seventh among the most impressive performances of the 2012 ICC World T20 championship, it is one of the best match-winning innings played by a tail ender in the history of the game, as it served a purpose.
Chasing http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Umar-Akmal-c94595 as a specialist batsman among the remaining three wickets. Batting without a care in the world, Umar Gul smashed the Proteas pace attack for a 17-ball 32, looting three sixes and two fours, to turn the match on its head. The right-arm seamer was clearly the dominant partner in the whirlwind 49-run eighth-wicket stand with Umar Akmal.
Gul’s candid performance not only helped Pakistan pull off a thrilling two-wicket win, but also a place in the Super Eights.
Lasith Malinga (5/31, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 v England, October 1, Pallekele)
In the T20 showdown, Sri Lanka’s sling bowler http://www.senore.com/Cricket/SL-Malinga-c2540 failed to make an impact that was expected of him. But he managed to show a glimpse of what he is capable of doing during his side’s final Super Eights fixture against defending champions England, at Pallekele, on October 1.
After having won their opening two Super Eight encounters, the hosts were all but assured a semi-final berth going into the match against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013. After being put into bat, the Sangakkara led Sri Lanka posted a challenging 169 for 6 in their stipulated 20 overs, and the spinners were expected to do the rest of the job, but Malinga had other ideas up his sleeves.
The slinging pacer removed http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Jos-Buttler-c1733 and Samit Patel, as the hosts restricted England to 150 to win the match by 19 runs.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/West-Indies-c760, September 22, Colombo)
The veteran Australia all-rounder has been the most consistent performer in the marquee tournament, finishing the tournament as leading run-scorer and second-highest wicket-taker. Four consecutive Man of the Match awards at the start of Australia’s World T20 campaign, and the Player of the Tournament accolade speak about themselves.
However, his impressive all-round performance against West Indies in a Group B fixture is the one that will linger in his supporters’ memories for a while. The Queenslander picked up key wickets of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/KA-Pollard-c1754 during West Indies' 192-run innings, and then blasted a 41 not out of just 24 deliveries before the rain arrived, with the mighty Aussies on 100 for 1. Later the Kangaroos were declared victors by 17 runs under Duckworth Lewis method.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Harbhajan-Singh-c61453 (4/12, India v England, September 23, Colombo)
After quite a slow start to the tournament, with big teams comprehensively crushing the minnows, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 V England, in Colombo on September 23 was supposed to be a mouth-watering contest. But it was nothing more than a one-sided affair, courtesy India’s strong spin attack.
Defending a challenging 170 for 4, Harbhajan Sigh led the Indian attack from the front, returning with astounding figures of 4 for 12, the best by an Indian bowler in a T20I, setting up a commanding 90-run win over the defending champions.
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