Top 5 nail-biting matches of the 2024 T20 World Cup ft. IND v SA Final

With the 2024 T20 World Cup now done and dusted, fans will surely miss the high-octane cricket on display over the past month. India beat South Africa by seven runs in stunning fashion in the final at the Kensington Oval in Barbados on Saturday, June 29, to lift the trophy they had last won in 2007.

The tournament saw a lot of thrilling encounters but perhaps none was as stellar as the final, where South Africa lost from a match-winning position. Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller seemed to have given the Proteas a big advantage, with the team needing 30 runs off 30 balls, but the former's departure forced them to go into their shell.

Suryakumar Yadav hung on to a stunner at long off to send David Miller back in the final over even as Hardik Pandya kept his calm and ensured that the Men in Blue crossed the line comfortably.

But this wasn't the only nail-biter in the tournament. In this listicle, we bring to you the top five nail-biting matches of the recently concluded event.

#5 Oman vs Namibia

David Wiese of Namibia celebrates winning the super over and the ICC Men's T20 Cricket World Cup West Indies & USA 2024 match between Namibia and Oman at Kensington Oval on June 02, 2024 in Bridgetown, Barbados. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

Oman and Namibia set the tone for what would eventually turn out to be an enthralling tournament by playing out a fantastic game at the Kensington Oval in the group stage.

Put in to bat by the Namibia skipper Gerhard Erasmus, Oman were bowled out for a paltry 109, thanks to Ruben Trumpelmann's four-wicket haul.

In reply, Namibia could not quite get off the screws fast enough and were restricted to 109-6 after David Wiese could only sneak in a bye when his team needed two to win off the last ball.

A super over was played out, with Wiese and Erasmus taking Oman bowler Bilal Khan for 21 runs. Wiese then returned to bowl the super over for Namibia and restricted Oman to 10-1.

#4 South Africa vs Nepal

South African fielders celebrating with Ottniel Baartman in the middle.

One of the most exciting games in this tournament was played between South Africa and Nepal in the group stage.

Played at the Arnos Vale Ground in Kingston, St Vincent, South Africa batted first to put up a mediocre total of 115-7 on a rather challenging surface. Opener Reeza Hendricks top-scored for the Proteas with 43 off 49 balls which came at a strike rate of 87.

In reply, Nepal, helped by Asif Sheikh's 42 and Anil Sah's 27, came excruciatingly close to chasing the target down but fell short by one run. With two runs needed off the last two balls, South Africa pacer Ottniel Baartman managed to bowl a dot and get Gulsan Jha run out off the next.

#3 Bangladesh vs Afghanistan

David Wiese of Namibia celebrates winning the super over and the ICC Men's T20 Cricket World Cup West Indies & USA 2024 match between Namibia and Oman at Kensington Oval on June 02, 2024 in Bridgetown, Barbados. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

Bangladesh and Afghanistan faced off in a crucial Super Eight fixture, which was a direct shoot-out between the latter and Australia for a semifinal spot.

Had Bangladesh won a close game, Australia would have gone through while Afghanistan's win would have seen them go to the last four.

Batting first, Afghanistan scored 115-5 in their quota of 20 overs before managing to bowl Bangladesh out for a mere 105 in the second innings.

Litton Das scored a brave half-century for Bangladesh (54 not out) but received little support from the other end.

Bangladesh were knocked out of the competition as Afghanistan qualified for the semifinals of an ICC event for the first time.

#2 India vs Pakistan

Babar Azam of Pakistan bats during the ICC Men's T20 Cricket World Cup West Indies & USA 2024 match between India and Pakistan at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium on June 09, 2024 in New York, New York. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

India and Pakistan played out a thrilling encounter in the group stage. In this game played in New York, India struggled to put runs on the board while batting first and could only muster 119 before being bowled out in 19 overs.

The rare event of Pakistan beating India in an ICC tournament seemed to be on the horizon before the latter imploded spectacularly and were restricted to 113-7 by Jasprit Bumrah and Co. India won the game by six runs and maintained their superiority in ICC events.

#1 The final - India vs South Africa

The best match of the tournament was probably reserved for the last. The final, played between India and South Africa, proved to be an absolute humdinger, with the result swaying both ways until the end.

Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs and Quinton de Kock almost brought their team to the proximity of the trophy but India somehow wrested control from them and won the game.

The Proteas needed 30 runs off 30 balls at one stage when chasing a target of 177, but Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya and Arshdeep Singh snatched the win and helped India end an 11-year ICC trophy drought.

Pandya's last over, with Suryakumar Yadav pulling off a spectacular catch at long off to send David Miller back to the pavilion, will be remembered for ages.