Cricket Classics - Part XXXV : 2007 T20 World Cup Opener: The first century in T20I history.
Hello, fellow Sports Enthusiasts,
Cricket is not just a sport between two teams; it's a battle of skills, strategy, and capitalizing on clutch moments. Although the game has transformed over the decades, it has never failed to impress or leave us with unforgettable moments.
So, through this series, I will present some of the most iconic cricket matches that have made fans jump out of their seats. Let's remember those legendary games once a week. I am with another iconic match.
The 2007 ICC Twenty20 World Cup was the first edition of a tournament that set a new dimension in Cricket. It was hosted by South Africa, and was a gamble at the start to adjust to the new experience. But from the first match of the tournament, everything turned around. The high-scoring clash, entertainment, and thrill made it easy for fans to embrace the new format.
The tournament was held from 11 to 24 September 2007, including 12 teams. The first match was between South Africa and the West Indies.
Ramnaresh Sarwan captained the West Indies team alongside explosive players like Chris Gayle, Devon Smith, and Marlon Samuels. The great Graeme Smith captained the Proteas with a balanced squad including Herschelle Gibbs, AB, Mark Boucher, Shaun Pollock, Albie Morkel, etc. Both teams were just amazing, but never thought this match to be this interesting.
It was the 11th of September 2025 in Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg. South Africa won the toss and elected to field. But that decision backfired on them with the fierce start from the openers. Especially, Chris Gayle made the lethal SA attack like kids. As this approach is new to Cricket, Gayle showed his fireworks like a boss. He scored 117 runs off 57 balls, including 7 fours and 10 sixes. It was the first century in the T20I format.
Gayle and Smith scored 145 runs for the first wicket in 13 overs. Even with a small collapse towards the end, they scored 205/6 after 20 overs.
It's a very good total, and what do you think the response from the Proteas will be? Well, Smith and Herschelle Gibbs straightaway took the challenge and got a wonderful start. Especially Gibbs played a gem of an inning and stayed until the end. They lost Smith at 54, and the second wicket also soon. But Kemp joined Gibbs and made the chase easy.
They destroyed the WI balling attack pretty easily. Gibbs scored 90 runs in 55 balls, and Kemp contributed with 46 off 22 balls. And sadly, WI ballers gave away 23 wides. South Africa chased down the target in just 17.4 overs.
So, it was a historical chase and one hell of a start for the T20I World Cups.
Asking to follow on, the Kiwis pulled off a dramatic victory. There were some mockeries for England, as they declared the first inning too early.
See you at the next episode!! You can always suggest a match to discuss in the next episode.
src - WikiPedia
ESPNcricinfo
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