Battle lines have been drawn at the Dubai International Stadium as New Zealand take on Australia in the final of the T20 World Cup on November 14. New Zealand will be playing their first ever final while Australia take guard in the final for the second time. Neither Australia nor New Zealand have won the World Cup in the shortest format of the game. The two teams were at their fluent best in the semi-finals and they have spring in their steps coming into the final. This will be the seventh final in the history of T20 World Cup. Here is a look at the story of six T20 World Cup finals so far.
India vs Pakistan, 2007 at Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg
Going into the tournament as underdogs with plenty new faces, India defeated Pakistan in a tense finale at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg to be crowned the inaugural champions of the T20 World Cup. The arch-rivals had faced each in the group stages as well. Chasing 158, the blockbuster tie went down to the final over where Joginder Sharma held his nerves to dismiss Misbah-ul-Haq as the Men in Blue clinched their only T20 World Cup title.
Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, 2009 at Lords, London
Pakistan didn’t have to wait long for the glory as they reached yet another final and went one better by outclassing Sri Lanka to get their hands on the trophy. Enjoying the form of his life, Tillakaratne Dilshan who was later adjourned ‘Man of the Tournament’ for more than 300 runs in the World Cup went for a duck as Sri Lanka couldn’t manage to see off the Pakistani pace attack. Shahid Afridi’s well made 54 set the tone as the Men in Green chased the target of 139 with eight balls to spare. Afridi was adjourned ‘Man of the Match’ while this was Pakistan’s first World Cup success in 17 years.
England vs Australia, 2010 at Kensington Oval, Bridgetown
The rivalry between these two traditional rivals stretched back to 1882 but had never met in a World Cup final. Australia were the defending World Champions of the 50-over format and had won three consecutive titles at that level. Going into the final, Mr. Cricket Mike Hussey had knocked Pakistan out in a sensational semi final. However, it was the English side that made sure the Aussies don't get over the line as they chased down the total of 148 with 18 balls to spare. Craig Kieswetter had already done the damage with 63-run knock before captain Paul Collingwood sealed the deal with Eoin Morgan.
Sri Lanka vs West Indies, 2012 at R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
Chasing 137 shouldn’t have been an uphill task for a team boasting of the likes of Sangakkara, Dilshan, Jaywardene, but that said Sri Lanka’s destiny was already sealed when they got off to a worst possible start. It was a Deja Vu for Dilshan, like 2009 final was dismissed for a duck. From 48/1 they were 69/7 and ultimately bundled out for 101. Sri Lanka lost the final by 36 runs. Sunil Narine picked up three wickets whereas Darren Sammy ended with a brace of wickets. With 78 runs and one wicket in the final, Marlon Samuels was adjourned 'Man of the Match;. This was West Indies’ first World Cup triumph in 33 years.
Sri Lanka vs India, 2014 at Sher-E-Bangla National Stadium, Dhaka
If you don’t succeed at first, try second time, if not third time. Well, for Sri Lanka this was their fifth shot in a World Cup final in seven years (including 50-over format). They had failed in all those finals miserably but ultimately Sri Lanka reached the promised land and avoided making previous mistakes. Asked to chase 135 by MS Dhoni’s India, their wounds were fresh from the 2012 final collapse. Although this time Kumar Sangakkara took the initiative and made sure their is no anti-climax. The wicketkeeper-batter scored an unbeaten 52, as they finally had their hands on the trophy. He received ‘Man of the Match’ award for his match-winning knock.
England vs West Indies, 2016 at Eden Gardens, Kolkata
One-sided finals had become a pattern in the T20 World Cup. However, this turned out to be a final worthy of a box office hit at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Chasing 156, West Indies were lagging behind as England were in the driving seat before the final over miracle. All three results were possible, a win for England, a tie and an improbable West Indies win as they needed 19 off the final over. What was going to follow was unpredictable Euphoria as Carlos Braithwaite ‘aimed for the hills’ deposited Ben Stokes for not one, not two, not three but four consecutive sixes. Brathwaite's unreal cameo turned the game on its head as the West Indies got their hands on the trophy for the second time in the shortest format of the game. In the 14-year-old history of the tournament, West Indies remain the only side to have won the T20 World Cup on multiple occasions.
