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Rediff.com  » Cricket » Yuvraj not the first fall guy of a WT20 final!
This article was first published 9 years ago

Yuvraj not the first fall guy of a WT20 final!

April 09, 2014 11:32 IST

Image: India's Yuvraj Singh leaves the field after being dismissed
Photographs: Andrew Biraj/Reuters Rediff Sports Desk

A poor showing by Misbah-ul- Haq, Tillekeratne Dilshan, Shane Watson and Lasith Malinga also cost their teams dear in previous editions of the Twenty20 marquee event.

He has been vilified as the sole reason for Team India’s shocking defeat, rather abject surrender, to Sri Lanka in the final of the World T20.

His house was pelted with stones by unidentified youth, and critics haven’t shied away from saying Yuvraj Singh’s international career is over.

It’s a fact that Yuvraj’s 21-ball 11, sans any boundary, slowed down the Indian innings in the World T20 final against Sri Lanka considerably, denied the in-form Virat Kohli the strike and helped Sri Lanka wrest back the initiative.

However, to blame him solely is perhaps a little too convenient. The other players did not do enough to cover what was a ‘visible weakness’.

Whatever be the case, fact is Yuvraj, who played a key role in India’s triumph in the inaugural edition of the tournament as well the 2011 World Cup, was a disappointment.

The 32-year-old, though, isn’t the first player whose performance, rather lack of it, cost a team the title in the Twenty20 tournament.

Here’s a look at players whose failure cost their respective teams the crown.

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Yuvraj not the first fall guy of a WT20 final!

Image: Misbah-ul-Haq
Photographs: Getty Images

Misbah-ul-Haq (2007)

When it comes to India-Pakistan rivalry there are many memorable matches, many memories to cherish. However, there are just two unforgettable moments.

Indian fans will never forget Javed Miandad’s last-ball six off Chetan Sharma at Sharjah.

And Pakistan fans will never forget Misbah-ul Haq’s ill-timed scoop straight to Shantakumaran Sreesanth at short fine-leg in the inaugural edition of the tournament in South Africa.

Chasing 158 to win the final, Pakistan lost wickets at regular intervals but closed in on the target.

They might have won the match had it not been for Misbah’s adventurous shot of Joginder Sharma in the last over.

For the record, they fell short by five runs, with three balls left to play.

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Yuvraj not the first fall guy of a WT20 final!

Image: Sri Lanka's Tillakaratne Dilshan
Photographs: Getty Images

Tillkeratne Dilshan (2009)

He was the highest scorer in the second edition of the tournament.

With an aggregate of 317 runs from seven matches (@52.83), he was miles ahead of the rest.

However, in the match that mattered the most, Tillekeratne Dilshan failed to fire.

When Kumar Sangakkara won the toss and opted to bat first against Pakistan at Lord’s, he would have expected a rollicking start from his in-form opener.

Dilshan, instead was out for a fifth ball duck, mistiming a Mohammad Aamir delivery.

Sri Lanka were soon struggling at 32 for four inside the sixth over and never quite recovered, despite a valiant unbeaten 64 by their skipper.

They scored just 138-6, Pakistan reaching the target with eight balls to spare.

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Yuvraj not the first fall guy of a WT20 final!

Image: Australia's Shane Watson
Photographs: Philip Brown/Reuters

Shane Watson (2010)

Ever since his debut, Shane Watson was one of the most crucial players for Australia.

In the third edition of the tournament in the West Indies, Watto was in decent form, helping his side make it to their maiden final.

However, in a match where he was expected to play a crucial role, the all-rounder flattered to deceive.

Watson was dismissed to just the third ball of the Australian innings for 2 while England was chasing a modest 149. He helped them considerably, conceding 42 runs off his three overs.

In fact, both Craig Kieswetter and Kevin Pietersen targeted him for the ‘special treatment’.

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Yuvraj not the first fall guy of a WT20 final!

Image: Lasith Malinga
Photographs: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Lasith Malinga (2012)

He might be basking in the glory of Sri Lanka’s triumph on Sunday, but Lasith Malinga, Sri Lanka’s captain this year, was the villain of the piece when they hosted the event in 2012.

Batting first, the West Indies were struggling early on.

Gayle, the hero of the West Indies' semi-final win over Australia, failed in the final – taking up 16 balls to score just three runs.

However, the Caribbean nation had another hero, an unlikely one at that.

Marlon Samuels's effort (78 off 56) came in the worst of circumstances.

With the West Indies' wickets falling left, right and centre it was left to Samuels to play the sheet-anchor's role first, as per the demands of the situation.

And when the situation arose, he took centre stage.

Samuels targeted Sri Lanka's strike bowler, Malinga, for the assault.

With the West Indies reeling at 48 for two, after the 12th over, Malinga was handed the ball. Samuels smashed three sixes as 21 runs came off the over.

Again, with the team precariously placed at 89 for five, Malinga charged in to bowl the 17th over, his third of the innings. Little did he, and the Sri Lankans, know that the over would change the course of the match.

19 runs came off it, all but one from Samuels’s bat.

The West Indies won the match by 36 runs -- the two Malinga overs clearly being the difference -- to annex their first World crown since 1979.