Cricket fans across the globe witnessed scintillating action in T20 cricket in 2021. Australia, who had suffered T20I series defeats in New Zealand, West Indies, and Bangladesh, won the 20-over World Cup in UAE, while Chennai, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Multan lifted titles in their respective T20 leagues. Also, there were a few stunning individual performances that captured the minds of cricket enthusiasts and fantasy cricket players.
Here are some of the most memorable all-round fantasy cricket performances in T20s in 2021.
Kyle Mayers - 191 points (vs Saint Lucia)
West Indies all-rounder Kyle Mayers had made a name for himself after scoring a sensational match-winning double hundred on his Test debut. However, he couldn’t replicate that form in the West Indies T20 League. Mayers, who represented Barbados, managed only 79 runs in seven innings. But he delivered with bat and ball in Barbados’ final game of the season. A three-wicket haul and an unbeaten 81 saw him rack up 191 fantasy points. He hammered six sixes and five boundaries.
Ravindra Jadeja - 189 points (vs Bangalore)
Three wickets, 62 runs, a direct run-out, and a maiden - Ravindra Jadeja came up with a sensational performance against Bangalore in the Indian T20 League clash at Wankhede. He scored 189 points in the match, and 47 points came in the last six balls of Chennai innings. Harshal Patel, the top wicket-taker of the tournament, was taken for a ride by Jadeja, hitting five sixes and a four. The 33-year-old then grabbed the wickets of Washington Sundar, Glenn Maxwell, and AB de Villiers and affected the run-out of Dan Christian.
David Wiese - 186 points (vs Trinbago)
David Wiese steered Saint Lucia towards the final of the West Indies T20 League courtesy of a five-wicket haul and a quickfire knock. The South African-born Namibian cricketer, who made 34 of just 21 balls, ended a threatening stand between Sunil Narine and Colin Munro and swung the game in Saint Lucia's favor by removing Kieron Pollard in the 16th over. The wickets of Akeal Hosein and Tim Seifert sealed a sixth T20 five-for for the all-rounder and a 21-run win for the franchise.
Mitchell Marsh - 180 points (vs West Indies)
Mitchell Marsh, one among the consistent performers in T20s in 2021, scored 180 fantasy points in Australia's lone win in the five-match T20I series in West Indies. It was a disciplined display from Marsh as he clinched the wickets of Lendl Simmons, Chris Gayle, and Nicholas Pooran and finished with figures of 3/24 in four overs. Chasing 186, he made a terrific 75 off just 44 balls. Four months later, Marsh won the man of the match award in the 20-over World Cup final.
Sean Abbott - 179 points (vs Brisbane)
Chasing a modest 106, Sydney S were on the verge of defeat after losing their eighth wicket in the 13th over with just 47 on the board. Sean Abbott, who wreaked havoc with the ball earlier in the match, added an unbeaten 59 with Ben Dwarshuis and saw his team home in the final over. The unbeaten 37*, a four-wicket haul, two catches, and a run-out helped the 29-year-old register 179 fantasy points in the match.
Honorable mentions
- Rishi Dhawan - 225 points (vs Jammu & Kashmir)
- Kieron Pollard - 173 points (vs Chennai)
- Shakib Al Hasan - 170 points (vs PNG)
Parameswaran Sankaranarayanan
Parameswaran Sankaranarayan is a sports enthusiast who has worked in print, website, and other digital platforms. He was part of the editorial team of first-ever Indian football-based website - IndianFootball.com (now defunct) - and passionately follows the latest happenings in world football. During his time as a journalist, he had the opportunity to interact with some of the iconic personalities in Indian sports and witness some memorable moments in Indian football.
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