What are the Top 5 unexpected victories of 2023 till now?
2023 has been a year of upsets in cricket, with many surprises already witnessed. The gap between sides is narrowing, which bodes well for cricket’s development and expansion. This article will explore some of the unexpected victories across formats that nobody would have predicted at the start of the year.
Also Read: Chris Woakes: Unsung Hero For England in 3rd Test of Ashes 2023
Finally, not only are men’s teams like the Netherlands and Scotland matching higher-ranked sides, but women’s cricket teams are also improving their skill sets and raising the bar.
Netherlands Defeated West Indies in the ICC World Cup Qualifiers 2023
The Netherlands pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the ICC World Cup Qualifiers 2023 in Zimbabwe by defeating a strong West Indies team. The match was a thrilling ODI where David beat Goliath. The West Indies set a massive total of 374/6, thanks to Nicholas Pooran’s century and cameos from Keemo Paul and Shai Hope.
The Dutch team matched the Caribbean batsmen shot for shot, with Teja Nidamanuru scoring a memorable century. However, the real hero was Logan van Beek, who scored 28 runs in 14 balls to tie the match and smoked 30 runs off Jason Holder in the Super Over, which proved too much for the West Indies batsmen. The loss put the Windies’ quest to qualify for the main event in peril.
Afghanistan dominated Bangladesh at their home ground
Bangladesh has been dominant in their home ODIs in recent years and is a serious contender for a top-4 finish in the upcoming World Cup in India in 2023. However, Afghanistan has made rapid strides in international cricket and is no longer a pushover in any format of the game. Bangladesh made the mistake of underestimating Afghanistan in the ongoing series, where they were dominated in both ODIs.
Despite a comeback from Shakib Al Hasan, Mustafizur Rahman, and Mehidy Hasan Miraj, the trio of Fazalhaq Faaroqi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, and Rashid Khan proved too much for the Bangladeshi batsmen. Afghanistan scored a strong total of 331/9, and Bangladesh only managed to get 189 runs, with only Mushfiqur Rahim putting up a fight. With this win, Afghanistan showed that they have finally arrived on the scene in international cricket and have great potential to become a threat in the near future.
Afghanistan surprised Pakistan in the UAE
The Afghanistan-Pakistan cricket rivalry is a hidden gem of the sport. When these two teams play against each other, not only the players but their respective fans also get supercharged. In the T20 series in 2023, Pakistan decided to put runs on the board after losing the first game. But Fazalhaq Faaroqi broke the back of Pakistan’s top order, and they were reeling at 63/5.
Imad Wasim and Shadab Khan fought back, and Afghanistan’s batters knew the run rate. They concentrated on strike rotation with occasional boundaries, and Najibullah Zadran and Mohammad Nabi provided the finishing touches to take their team across the line.
The Australian Women’s team unstoppable run was halted by England Women
The Australian Women’s team’s dominance has been unmatched in cricket history. They had not lost a single T20 series since 2017, but England showed great character in the Ashes 2023 series. Danielle Wyatt and Alice Capsey displayed some great T20 batting, and Sophie Ecclestone and Lauren Bell ensured that Australia’s famed batting line-up didn’t perform to their expectations.
England won the T20 series 2-1, which is a significant result considering the depth of their counterparts. They also managed to keep the Ashes 2023 alive with these two back-to-back wins.
Sri Lanka surprised New Zealand at their home ground
The New Zealand women’s team is a balanced team with efficient players, though not as intimidating as the Australian or English women’s teams. They lost to Sri Lanka, which is not known for consistent cricket, in a 3-match ODI series in 2023 while hosting the White Ferns. Sri Lanka won 2-1 with their captain Chamari Athapaththu leading from the front, scoring 248 runs with a fantastic SR of 152. Her inning of 140* off just 80 deliveries while chasing 195 in 27 overs was probably one of the finest ODI innings across men’s and women’s cricket.
