T20 World Cup Records: Highest 4th Wicket Partnership
Aggressive batting frequently rules T20 World Cup cricket, but middle-order partnerships play an equally important part. Top-order batters lay the foundation, but middle-order alliances, particularly for the fourth wicket, allow teams to bounce back from early failures and quickly reach large totals. In the 2021 T20 World Cup, Pathum Nissanka and Wanindu Hasaranga put up a 123-run partnership for Sri Lanka against Ireland, which stands as the best fourth-wicket partnership in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup history.
Wicket | Runs | Batters | Team | Opposition | |
1st wicket | 170* | Jos Buttler | Alex Hales | England | India |
2nd wicket | 168 | Quinton de Kock | Rilee Rossouw | South Africa | Bangladesh |
3rd wicket | 152 | Alex Hales | Eoin Morgan | England | Sri Lanka |
4th wicket | 123 | Pathum Nissanka | Wanindu Hasaranga | Sri Lanka | Ireland |
5th wicket | 119* | Shoaib Malik | Misbah-ul-Haq | Pakistan | Australia |
Wanindu Hasaranga and Pathum Nissanka’s Groundbreaking Fourth Wicket Stand
In a crucial encounter against Ireland on October 20, 2021, at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Sri Lanka was in danger. But their match was rescued by a miraculous 4th wicket partnership between Wanindu Hasaranga and Pathum Nissanka, which became the record of 123 runs for the highest 4th wicket partnership in the history of the T20 World Cup.
How Hasaranga and Nissanka Saved Sri Lanka from Ireland
Sri Lanka struggled at 8/3 in the second over after having three wickets fall in quick succession. Sri Lanka required a match-winning partnership to redeem themselves because Ireland’s bowlers were in top form.
- With a serene 61 off 47 balls, six fours, and a six, Pathum Nissanka, known for his dependable technique, headed the innings. He was essential in building the innings and rotating the strike.
- Wanindu Hasaranga, who is more well-known for his all-around abilities, had an incredible knock, hitting 71 off 47 balls with 10 fours and one six. His aggressive hitting helped Sri Lanka gain the upper hand.
Sri Lanka reached 171/7 in 20 overs thanks to their 123-run stand, which was too much for Ireland to handle. Thereafter, the Sri Lankan bowlers won by 70 runs as Ireland were bowled out for a paltry 101 runs.
Other Memorable Fourth Wicket Associations in T20 World Cup History
There have been many excellent fourth-wicket associations in the history of the T20 World Cup, though Nissanka and Hasaranga are now at the top of that list:
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119: David Miller and JP Duminy (South Africa vs. Zimbabwe, 2012)
In the 2012 ICC T20 World Cup, JP Duminy and David Miller of South Africa helped their team produce a dominant total by putting up a game-winning 119-run partnership against Zimbabwe.
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118: Misbah-ul-Haq and Shoaib Malik (Australia vs. Pakistan, 2007)
Pakistan beat Australia in the 2007 ICC T20 World Cup because of a turning point 118-run partnership between Misbah-ul-Haq and Shoaib Malik.
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112: Suresh Raina and Virat Kohli (India vs. South Africa, 2010)
In the 2010 ICC T20 World Cup, India’s Suresh Raina and Virat Kohli played a 112-run partnership against South Africa, and Raina went on to play a century.
In T20 cricket, a Good Fourth-Wicket Partnership is Crucial
A good fourth wicket typically stands for the difference between a competitive score and one that falls short. Such a stand dictates the approach in which the game is being played, either by accelerating in the middle overs or building after the early wickets. Players such as Hasaranga, Duminy, Kohli, and Nissanka have demonstrated the importance of these stands during high-stress Twenty20 matches.
Wanindu Hasaranga and Pathum Nissanka’s 123-run partnership is still the most significant fourth-wicket partnership in T20 World Cup history, underscoring the significance of a robust middle-order comeback. In the 2021 ICC T20 World Cup, Sri Lanka turned around from falling behind early and defeated Ireland by a wide margin due to this turning point innings.
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