Five top T20 World Cup performances so far

FE Team | Published: February 20, 2026 23:51:07

Romario Shepherd

AHMEDABAD, India, Feb 20 (AFP): Cricket's T20 World Cup moves into the Super Eights stage today (Saturday) after two weeks of intense action in the 20-team tournament in India and Sri Lanka.
AFP Sport selects five outstanding individual performances during the group stage.
SHEPHERD HAT-TRICK
West Indies pace bowler Romario Shepherd took the first hat-trick of the tournament as he ripped out Scotland's tail in his team's opening win.
Scotland were in with a chance at 133-5 after 16 overs, chasing 183, when captain Shai Hope tossed the ball to Shepherd.
The result was devastating: Shepherd removed Matthew Cross, Michael Leask, Oliver Davidson and Safyaan Sharif for no run in five balls.
Scotland had no way back from 133-9 and Shepherd finished with 5-20 from his three overs.
SURYAKUMAR POWER
India were in deep trouble at 77-6 in their opening group match against the USA before skipper Suryakumar Yadav hit an unbeaten 84 off 49 balls to rescue his team.
Suryakumar rebuilt before unleashing his trademark tumbling scoops, ramps and sweeps in a remarkable innings that had the 35,000 capacity crowd on their feet at Mumbai's Wankhede stadium.
He reached his fifty off 36 balls before launching a late assault, hitting four sixes and 10 fours in all.
Suryakumar was brutal off the final over from Saurabh Netravalkar, hitting two tumbling sixes and two fours as it disappeared for 21 to take India 161-9 which they were able to defend.
MUZARABANI HEROICS
Zimbabwe's giant pace bowler Blessing Muzarabani registered his T20 best of 4-17 as they beat Australia in the biggest upset of the group phase.
The 2.03 metres (6ft 8in) Muzarabani extracted pace and bounce from the pitch in Colombo to remove opener Josh Inglis (8) and the dangerous power hitter Tim David for a duck.
Matt Renshaw, on 65, was anchoring Australia's chase when Muzarabani struck again, letting out a roar and flexing his muscles after having the Australian caught at mid-off.
NISSANKA'S CENTURY
Sri Lanka's Pathum Nissanka said it was a "dream" to hit the first century of the tournament, which inflicted a second defeat on the 2021 champions Australia.
Nissanka reached his hundred off 52 balls at a packed stadium in Kandy as Sri Lanka comfortably chased down their 182 target with two overs to spare to win by eight wickets.
Nissanka's second T20 international ton was laced with 10 fours as Sri Lanka clinched their Super Eights spot.
SAMRA'S RECORD
Canada's 19-year-old opening batsman Yuvraj Samra became the first player from an associate nation to score a T20 World Cup century -- and also the youngest in the history of the tournament.