T20 cricket is considered a batsman-dominated format. The bowlers have managed to equal the odds with their variations and bowling styles. However, the fans still consider that the batsmen rule this format because they are allowed to take risks right from ball number one. The likes of Chris Gayle, Rohit Sharma, Colin Munro, and others have played a major role in solidifying the aforementioned claim.
Generally, teams do not lose more than six-seven wickets in T20 cricket. If a team has lost more than eight wickets, 9 out of 10 times, it means that the team had a poor start or they could not capitalize the great start. Tenth wicket partnership is something that any team does not wish for. But in this article, we will look at those four instances when the batting team not only lost nine wickets, but also the tenth wicket proved to be the best partnership of their innings.
(Stats credit: Howstat.com)
Norman Vakua and Pipi Raho – 26 vs. Ireland, 2016
Many fans would know that Papua New Guinea is taking giant strides in the cricket world. They have done well in associate nation matches, while they also have qualified for a few big events. Papua New Guinea played a T20I match against Ireland back in 2016. In that game, the Irish team scored 96 runs in a 11-overs-a-side match.
Chasing 97, the top-order batsmen of PNG took high risks and lost their wickets. But Norman Vanua and Pipi Raho kept their hopes alive. The two batsmen joined forces when the score was 63-9. They added 26 runs. Still, the team fell short by seven runs in the end.
Ahsan Malik and Paul van Meekeren – 29 vs. Hong Kong, 2017
Another entry from associate T20I matches is from the 2016-17 Desert T20 Challenge match between the Netherlands and Hong Kong. Batting first, Hong Kong posted 183/4 on the board, riding on Nizakat Khan’s half-century. Chasing 184, the Dutch could not get going at all. Anshuman Rath’s three-wicket haul broke their back as the Netherlands were reeling at 63-9.
However, number 10 batsman Ahsan Malik and number 11 Paul van Meekeren gave some fight before giving up. They took the total to 92 before Ehsan Khan picked up Paul’s wicket.
Mohammad Adnan and Usman Ali – 38 vs. Qatar, 2019
This entry is from the ACC Western Region T20 tournament, where Saudi Arabia played a match against Qatar. The two tail-enders had a magnificent partnership for Saudi Arabia. Still, they lost the match by four wickets. After losing nine wickets for 88 runs, Mohammad Adnan united with Usman Ali.
Adnan smacked a 15-ball 38, including two fours and four sixes as the team’s total went past 100. Ali backed him up with a patient inning of seven runs. Ali lost his wicket to Iqbal Hussain in the end. Next, Qatar chased down the score in 15.3 overs with four wickets in hand.
Tim Southee and Seth Rance – 36 vs. Sri Lanka, 2019
All cricket fans would know that Sri Lanka’s Lasith Malinga took four wickets off four balls in a T20I encounter against New Zealand last year. That hat-trick dismantled the Kiwi batting lineup. There were 52/9 at one moment. However, captain Tim Southee saved them from embarrassment with a fighting knock of 28 runs.
Southee hit three sixes and remained not out. His partner Seth Rance aggregated eight runs from 17 balls. Ultimately, Lakshan Sandakan dismissed Rance to wrap up the game for Sri Lanka.
