With only the second round of the event having been completed at the time of writing, it is early days to comment on the ICC Twenty20, 2014 and which way it would tilt. Even so there have been eye-catching performances – some have come from quarters expected, such as the world’s No 1 bowler in contemporary cricket, Dale Steyn with the balls, while others have shrug stage fright aside to wield their willow to make a telling impact.
Here is a recap of four from the top drawer.
Umar Akmal
94 off 54 balls Pakistan against Australia, Dhaka
When he debuted on the international scene, his promise was extraordinary. Some commentators called him a topnotch find in world cricket, as others nodded in agreement. Yet his performances have remained mostly pretty ordinary. But in this tournament, as in the preceding Asia Cup 2014 save one outing, Umar Akmal is living up to his promise with a measure of consistency. In the all-important, do-or-die game against Australia, the pocket dynamo exploded, ripping apart the Aussie attack with flair and flamboyance. Dehydration and cramps got him for 94 off just 54 deliveries, with four sixes and nine fours his principal scoring shots. His was the innings which enabled Pakistan to post 191-5, a total they defended despite the Aussies onslaught. Power hitting with compactness was the essence of Umar’s knock, as Pakistan hung in there, to overcome the fright of crashing out of the event to pulverize Australia by 16 runs.
Glen Maxwell
74 off 33 balls Australia against Pakistan, Dhaka
If Umar Akmal’s was a knock of authority, Maxwell’s swashbuckling innings almost matched it. In the process he had nearly upstaged Umar. Actually his power was at some points even more awesome. He came into bat at 8-2 and from then on displayed one of the very best hitting seen in this ICC World Twenty20 against arguably the best bowling line-up in this format. Maxwell hit six sixes and seven fours adding 118 for the third wicket with Aaron Finch. Pakistani bowlers were clueless as he kept on clearing the ropes with consummate ease. Once he fell to Shahid Afridi in the 12th over, Pakistani bowlers had a look-in and how they cashed in on that!
Dale Steyn
4-17 South Africa against New Zealand, Chittagong
Sensational, is just the word to describe Steyn’s heroics in this game that the Black Caps had all but clinched until Steyn gunned them down at the very fag end. As Steyn steamed in to bowl the final over with seven needed, Ross Taylor and Luke Ronchi looked all set for celebration and South Africa on the verge of a real threat of not making it to the knockout stage. Steyn dismissed Ronchi first ball, Nathan McCullum on the fifth ball and then ran out Ross Taylor on the last delivery to deliver the coup de grace by a mere two runs. Steyn’s final figures read 4-0-17-4 as he single-handedly won the game for South Africa. The best fast bowler in contemporary cricket across all three formats of the game? You bet.
Stephan Myburgh
63 off 23 balls Netherlands against Ireland, Sylhet
The Dutch needed to overhaul the target of 190 in 14.2 overs to qualify for the main draw and they couldn’t have asked for a better start than what Stephan MyBurgh provided. This Dutch dynamite of an opener with his batting belied belonging to a minnow Associate nation, showcasing his breathtaking range in power hitting in his 63 off a mere 23 balls including a world-record equaling 50 off just 17. His innings was laced with seven sixes and four fours as the Netherlands reached the required target in a mindboggling 13.5 overs, at a rollicking run rate of 13.95 per over. After the pyrotechnics of Myburgh, the Dutch had made a deserving case of qualify for the main draw ahead of the rest – especially at the expense of the mortified Ireland.
