Jun 22 2009
ICC World Twenty20 Cricket: Associate nation moments of the tournament
It’s been a rollercoaster ride, a Jekyll and Hyde tournament throwing up results both predictable and wholly unexpected. Now the 2009 ICC World Twenty20 is over, it’s a perfect time to reflect on the ups and downs, the peaks and troughs of a truly exciting feast of cricket.
Retro Yakking has been there to document the upsets, the absolute slaughterings and the humorously insignificant from day one, and today takes a moment to reflect on the big stories of the past two and a half weeks of world class willow wielding.
First, how how did the three associate nations fare at this competition?
Day one of the tournament brought the first big shock - associates Netherlands giving hosts England more than a run for their money, taking the match down to the final ball. Requiring two from the final ball, Edgar Schiferli faced Stuart Broad…
A truly historic moment for Holland cricket, and surely their biggest ever win on the world stage. Sadly for them they would fall short of qualification to eventual winners Pakistan, but the damage was already done; in front of a sold out crowd at Cricket HQ, the Dutch wrote their names into the record books by beating a Test nation.
Ireland would achieve the same feat, beating a Bangladesh side slightly hampered by inexperience. Unlike Holland, however, they would advance to the Super Eight stage, where they gave the authorities food for thought with regard to a more full-time Ireland One Day International schedule.
Scotland would fare much worse, but not before Kyle Coetzer could stamp his mark on the championships with a brief but sparkling innings and surely the catch of the tournament against South Africa:
In all, a largely successful tournament for the associate nations, who gave a good account of themselves against some of the world’s top sides. Not much has changed from the halfway point - I was hopeful of another Ireland victory at some point, but it was not to be.
