Last-over finishes are virtually the norm in Twenty20 cricket, so regular that many players don't even notice the records created in the last over of the game. T20 is one of the most popular and visually appealing versions in the game. Almost every other match goes down to the wire, putting cricket fans on the edge of their seats. The results of the last ball make the matches exciting for which this format is known for. T20 matches often stretch into the final over. Batsmen and bowlers both feel pressure when a match is decided on the last ball of play. There are only 120 deliveries in T20 (excluding no balls, wide balls) and the game may alter in a matter of seconds. There have been instances before the inception of T20I when fans witnessed last ball nail-biting finishes like South Africa vs Australia last ball classic in the 1999 world cup semis. Here are the ten most gripping last ball finishes in the history of T20I over the years:
1. Australia defeated Pakistan by 3 wickets(14 May 2010, St. Lucia)
Saeed Ajmal has taken 23 wickets in his first three overs. Hussey and Johnson are battling it out at the crease. It was Mr. Cricket who faced the opening delivery, which Johnson managed to squeeze for a single. Two of the following three deliveries went for six over the leg side, followed by a boundary that brought the scores equal through point. As a result of a devastating long-range strike, Australia advanced to the final.
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2. New Zealand defeated India by 5 wickets(27 February 2009, Wellington)
T20 cricket was still in its infancy, and fans had no idea how thrilling it would be to watch. They were demonstrated by Brendon McCullum, who faced Irfan Pathan with 12 and six balls left in the innings. Rohit almost caught McCullum's mishit on the penultimate delivery. The first three balls produced three runs, then McCullum blasted boom-bap-boom, first over midwicket, then straight.
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3. The Netherlands defeated England by 4 wickets(5 June 2009, London)
It was up to Ryan ten Doeschate and Edgar Schiferli to get seven runs off the last over in this ICC World T20 contest. A run was scored off each of Stuart Broad's balls until the final one when they needed two more. When Schiferli knocked the ball back to Broad, who fielded it, Broad missed all three stumps, allowing the batters time to grab a pair and write a spectacular shock.
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4. Oman defeated Ireland by 2 wickets(9 march 2016, Dharamsala)
Ireland's grizzled tournament veterans faced up against Oman's newbies, so the runs necessary were not out of this world. Wet ball lost control of Max Sorensen, who barely landed it. Though the free hit yielded only a single, a head-high full toss went for four runs and was followed by another full toss for four more runs. After doing so much to keep Oman alive, Amir Ali came up just short of the catch. The No. 10 was on strike, and there were still three players to be selected. 'Twas yet another big, booming full-throttle throw. Again, it was a non-score. The wicketkeeper and Munis Ansari both missed. Oman had its day in the sun when it came to history.
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5. India defeated Bangladesh by 4 wickets(Mar 18 2018, Colombo)
While chasing a target of 167, India was toppling with 21 required off the last over. As India beat Bangladesh in Sunday's Nidahas Trophy Final at the R. Premadasa Stadium, Dinesh Karthik hit a six off the final ball to secure victory. Karthik joins an elite club of players who have won a tournament in either ODIs or T20Is by hitting six off the last ball.
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6. South Africa defeated by New Zealand by 2 runs(24 March 2014, Chittagong)
Ross Taylor and Luke Ronchi were in the middle of the batting order as the final over began in this ICC World T20 match, and New Zealand just needed seven runs. When Taylor struck for the first time in the over - the final ball - with three to win and two to draw - McCullum holed out. Taylor's only option was to return it to Steyn, who calmly ran Taylor out at the non-end striker's to complete the match in style.
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7. India defeated Australia by 7 wickets(31 January 2016, Sydney)
While Suresh Raina and Yuvraj Singh were batting at 17 for the final over, Andrew Tye bowled. Singh flicked one for four and one for six off the first two balls, revealing the paceman's inexperience. Raina had two runs to get off the penultimate ball after scoring five runs off the following three deliveries. Raina shifted leg side to knock the ball over the off-side infield for four after it was sent short and into the body. India now leads the series 3-0.
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8. Sri Lanka defeated Australia by 5 wickets(17 February 2017, Melbourne)
Sri Lanka needed six runs to win the match after Australia had scored 168/6. Despite Sri Lanka's advantage, the game was tied at the end of the game. Chamara Kapugedara struck a four off Andrew Tye's final delivery, which he had thrown full outside off on.
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9. Pakistan defeated Windies by 2 wickets(27 July 2013, Kingstown)
It came down to six out of six, and then one out of one with Zulfiqar Babar on strike to Marlon Samuels. The Windies scored 152/7. Samuels was doing a good job at his job, blasting them in yorker-length bursts of energy. Babar, on the other hand, is better renowned for his left-arm spin than for his batting ability. And let's not forget that it was his first international appearance. The final ball was a low full delivery, which he swung with all his might over far off for six to give Pakistan the victory in the St Vincent rain. Pakistan won by six wickets.
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10. Australia defeated South Africa by 5 wickets(6 March 2016, Johannesburg)
With Australia 11 runs short of their goal, Kagiso Rabada began the final over with David Warner still at the crease on 77. Warner's 40-ball 77 came off Warner's first delivery, which was bowled. Despite the lack of fours or sixes, nine runs were scored off the first five deliveries, leaving Mitchell Marsh with two runs to get off the penultimate delivery, which he achieved with a down-the-ground knock for two.
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