9 instances when score of 120 was defended in a T20I

T20 matches are for entertainment. The real intention for the introduction of the format was to watch some high-scoring games and enjoy the thrill of boundaries scored and wickets tumbling in successive overs.However, sometimes, a low-scoring match becomes more interesting and thrilling than a high scoring one could ever be. Packed fielding, proper planning, disciplined bowling and lots of in-house discussions bring everybody to the edge of their seats in such matches. The value of every single run amplifies in such situations.In the 1st T20 between Sri Lanka and India on this Tuesday, the No. 1 team in the world was outclassed by the islanders. India, batting first, made 101 runs and was dismissed in 19 overs. Sri Lanka easily did away with the target in 18 overs and won the game.However, there have been many instances when a target of 120 or less was successfully defended in a T20I game. We are going to take at all such instances in this slideshow.Note: Matches reduced due to weather have not been included in the slideshow except where the run rate to win the game was less than 6.

#1 Ireland vs Bermuda at Belfast, 03 August 2008

In this game, extras conceded proved out to be a difference between the teams

The first match in this list is a unique in its own way- 19 batsmen came to the crease and none of them could reach the double figures. A qualifier match of World T20 was played at Belfast between these two teams where each team was allowed 9 overs.

Ireland made 43 runs with the top score of 7 while Bermuda in reply could score 41 and remained 2 runs short. The highest score from Bermuda was 8.

The real difference between two teams was extras- Bermuda conceded 8 extras while Ireland only 4. It was the only instance when a team failed to chase down a target of under 6 runs per over in a reduced T20I match.

#2 Zimbabwe vs West Indies at Port of Spain, 28 February 2010

A strange chase saw WI score only 79/7 in 20 overs while chasing Zimbabwe’s 106

Zimbabwe toured West Indies in 2010 and played one T20I against the hosts. Courtesy to fighting knocks of Hamilton Masakadza (44) and Elton Chigumbura (34), Zimbabwe made 105 runs despite having 6 ducks in the scorecard. Suleman Benn took four wickets for 6 runs while Darren Sammy took 5 wickets for 26 runs.

In reply, West Indies started very slow and amassed only 21 runs in the powerplay overs. On the last ball of the powerplay, they lost their first wicket which was followed by a dramatic collapse. West Indies were 39-5 in 12th over due to two wickets taken by Cremer on consecutive balls in the 9th over.

West Indies managed a meagre 79 runs in 20 overs for the loss of 7 wickets and lost the match by 26 runs. Cremer was awarded Man of the Match.

#3 West Indies vs England at The Oval, 25 Sep 2011

4 run outs in the English innings meant that they couldn't overhaul West Indies' total of 113

The Oval hosted the 2nd T20 match of West Indies’ 2011 tour to England. Some tight bowling from Tim Bresnan and Samit Patel meant that the visitors could post a total of only 113 on the board despite losing only 5 wickets.

England could not handle the bowling of debutant Garey Mathurin who took 3 wickets for 9 runs in his 4 overs.

By the end of 12 overs, England were 60-7 courtesy some good bowling from West Indies and foolish running by the English batsmen. They still required 54 from last 8 with only three wickets in hand.

More misunderstandings between the batting partners produced a total of 4 run outs in English innings. England were dismissed for 88 runs in 16.4 overs. Ben Stokes, with 31 runs, put up some show but it was all in vain as West Indies clinched a 25-run victory.

#4 Ireland vs Kenya at Mombasa, 24 Feb 2012

In a nail biter, Ireland defeated Kenya by 2 runs

It was the 3rd T20 of the series between Ireland and Kenya and the two teams met at Mombasa. Two thirties from Gary Wilson and Ed Joyce and a 55-run partnership between the two gave Ireland the hopes of a 140 plus total after some early jitters.

However, 9 single figure scores meant that Ireland couldn't cross the psychological mark of 120. Ireland made 107-9 in 20 overs and thus, Kenya had to chase down 108.

The Irish came back with a better display of bowling in the second half of Kenya’s innings. They removed the Kenyan openers on totals of 4 and 6 runs respectively.

After that, a 53-run partnership between Collins Obuya and Tanmen Mishra was taking the game away from Irish team.

This is where first Rankin and then Andrew White struck, which changed the course of the game. Despite Obuya’s 42 and Mishra’s 37, Kenya could only manage 105 and lost the match by 2 runs in a close fight.

#5 Scotland vs Kenya at Aberdeen, 04 July 2013

Kenya were bowled out for 78 in reply to Scotland's 113

Once again, Kenya was playing a West European Nation and once more, it was on the receiving end. Playing away from home, the Kenyan bowlers did a wonderful job when they restricted Scotland to 113 runs.

In reply, the Scottish bowlers played their part even better than their counterparts had done earlier in the day. Kenya had lost their half their side by the end of the 9th over on a total of 29.

In 15th over, Kenya were reduced to 53-8 and they still required more runs than they had made. A defeat was imminent, and the remaining overs were just a ritual. Some fight from Duncan Allan down the order gave Kenya a respectful defeat, at least in comparison to what they could have got after being 8 down at 53.

The Kenyan team was wrapped up for 78 in little under 19 overs, which handed the Scottish team a 35-run victory.

#6 South Africa vs Sri Lanka at Colombo, 02 Aug 2013

A batting collapse saw Sri Lanka fail to reach their target of 116 against South Africa

South Africa toured Sri Lanka in the summer of 2013 and played the first T20I in Colombo at the R Premadasa Stadium. Batting first, the South Africans suffered early on in the innings when Senanayake removed the top order (the first 3 batsmen).

However, a half-century from JP Duminy did some face-saving for South Africa and they made an ordinary total of 115-6 in 20 overs.

The Sri Lankan batsmen did not find any form or touch and lost wickets in regular intervals. Sri Lanka required 26 to win from 19 balls with 5 wickets in hand. Kumar Sangakkara and Lahiru Thirimanne were at the crease.

However, debutant Imran Tahir removed Thirimanne on the last ball of 17th over to reduce Sri Lanka to 90-6. The next three batsmen- Thisara Perera, Senanayake and Lasith Malinga- all got ducks.

Except for Kusal Perera (11) and Sangakkara (59*), no other batsman entered the double figures. Sri Lanka fell 12 runs short of their target after their 20 overs and lost the low-scoring contest.

It was the only instance of at least one batsman scoring a half century from both sides and still both teams making less than 120 runs in their innings. JP Duminy bagged the Man-of-the-Match award for his match winning 51.

#7 West Indies vs Ireland at Kingston, 21 Feb 2014

Darren Sammy's immaculate bowling performance helped West Indies defend their total of 96

It was the 2nd T20I during Ireland's tour of West Indies, which was played at Kingston, Jamaica. Ireland won the toss and asked the hosts to bat first. West Indies, with a record 6 batsmen scoring between 10 to 19, ended up making 96 in 20 overs.

Alex Cusack took his career best figures of 4-11. The reply came heavily from the West Indian bowling as well when Krishmar Santokie, Samuel Badree and Sunil Narine conceded less than 13 runs in their 4 overs.

After early wickets from Narine, Badree and Santokie, Ireland were already struggling on 22-3. The rest was done by Darren Sammy when he rattles the Irish middle order by picking up three quick wickets in alternate overs.

The Irish batting line-up could never recover from this assault. Ireland made 85 in their 20 overs and lost the match by 11 runs. Darren Sammy for his match winning bowling performance was adjudged as the Man of the Match.

#8 Sri Lanka vs New Zealand at Chittagong, 31 March 2014

Herath took a 5-wicket haul to guide Sri Lanka to the final of the ICC World T20

Perhaps featuring one of the finest bowling performances under pressure, and at the greatest stage of world cricket, this match was played at Dhaka as the semi-final of World T20 2014 between Sri Lanka and New Zealand.

Sri Lanka, who were the runners-up in 2009 and 2012, had to beat New Zealand to make it to their third final in five tournaments. Trent Boult and Jimmy Neesham took 3 wickets each and dismissed the Sri Lankan side for 119 in 19.2 overs.

The stage was all set for New Zealand to enter the big final for the first time in the history, but Rangana Herath proved out to be their hurdle.

Instead, Herath went through them and produced arguably the best spell in T20I history. New Zealand were 18-0 in 3 overs when Herath was entrusted with the ball.

On the first ball, he effected a run out with the help of Sangakkara. Guptill was the victim. The last ball of the same over saw Brendon McCullum coming down the track, missing the ball completely, and returning to the pavilion.

What ensued was one of biggest collapses from any top order. Soon, New Zealand were 33-6 with 4 wickets to Herath’s name.

Senanayake took 2 wickets while Herath bagged 5 wickets while conceding only 3 runs in 3.3 overs.

Barring Williamson’s 42, the next best score was by Martin Guptill who made 5 runs. New Zealand made 60 runs in 15.3 overs and lost the game by 59 runs.

Without any surprises, Rangana Herath was the Man of the Match. Sri Lanka went on to become the champions after defeating India in the final.

#9 PNG vs Ireland at Townsville, 9 Feb 2016

PNG defended their total of 116 by bowling out Ireland for 105

In a game between Papua New Guinea and Ireland, PNG made 116-8 in 20 overs, batting first.

Ireland were cruising towards target despite losing two early wickets as they had made 48-2 in 9th over. However, two wickets on consecutive balls taken by Charles Amini changed the situation immediately.

Ireland could not recover from those two blows and kept losing wickets after regular intervals. Ireland were eventually dismissed for 105 runs in 20th over of their innings.

Besides Amini, Chad Soper took three wickets for PNG and played his part in the team’s victory.