T20 World Cup 2021: Rating the batting performances of the Super 12 teams

The T20 World Cup 2021 was quite an eventful affair. With all the twists and turns, it kept the on-lookers all entertained throughout the tournament. It also brought in a lot of surprise elements that furthered garnered the audacity of the mega event.

The teams that entered the high-profile tournament as the favorites did not have an easy path. While a few teams struggled to make their mark, others did not leave a single stone unturned to exude their sheer dominance in the multination event. From the qualifying rounds to the Super 12s and then the finals, it had every element that made it an intriguing tournament for the cricketing fraternity.

However, there were a few sides that weren’t able to leave a lasting impact and experienced a tough time despite good form by their side. As the T20 World Cup 2021 ended on a high note, let’s try to dig deeper to analyze the performances of the teams that advanced to the Super 12 stages.

In the article, we rate the batting performances of the Super 12 teams in the T20 World Cup 2021

1. Scotland – 3/10

The team topped the table in the qualifying round by securing three straight victories in the tournament. Scotland looked in splendid form as they defeated Bangladesh, Oman, and PNG to advance to the super 12s. However, the team wasn’t able to continue its momentum further.

They struggled to secure victory in the super 12 stage and finished the tournament with no wins from five matches. Their batting order experienced a collapse against the strong opponents as they found it difficult to put up an impressive showing. In the first match against Afghanistan in the super 12s, the team was wrapped up at just 60 runs whilst chasing a total of 191.

The scripts quite didn’t change in other matches as well as they struggled to make an impact in the tournament. Their batting order, however, punched above their weights in the game against New Zealand but fell 16 runs short.

2. Namibia- 3/10

Namibia displayed some great promise by playing good cricket and making it to the Super 12s. They scripted history as they made their debut in the tournament and also managed to qualify for the main event. They won their inaugural fixture against Scotland but even then the team’s batting order witnessed tough times as the team lost six wickets whilst chasing a total of just 110 runs.

Drawing swords against the strong contenders further, the team was aware of the challenges they had to face against the lethal bowling attacks. It is to be noted that the side made quite a few changes in their batting order throughout the tournament. The openers of the side were unable to provide flying starts to the team and that didn’t allow them to dominate the opposition.

They made several tweaks in their opening combinations but that didn’t reap them any significant rewards. All-rounder David Wiese was the highest run-getter for the side after he tried to provide some stability to the team in the middle-order. He chipped in with 227 runs from eight matches in the tournament at an average of 45.40.

3. Bangladesh- 4/10

The Tigers had a dismaying outing in the T20 World Cup 2021. They entered the tournament ranked sixth in the world. The team had good form by their side as they won the away T20I series against Zimbabwe, followed by Australia and New Zealand at home.

The team, however, couldn’t get to the winning ways as they did not win a single match in the super 12s. It appeared as if the batters found it a tad bit difficult to adapt to the UAE conditions and eventually couldn’t pile up huge runs. In the super 12s, the team crossed the 150 mark against Sri Lanka but couldn’t defend the total.

In the remaining matches, the team’s batting lineup was restricted to low totals. Against South Africa, the team was wrapped up for just 84 runs and at just 73 against Australia. Taking on the challenge against West Indies it seemed that the team almost pulled off a victory but they couldn’t finish the match and fell three runs short, revealing a lot of holes in their batting unit.

4. West Indies – 4/10

Think of the West Indies team and one cannot skip the names of some of the greatest power hitters in the team. Add to it the shortest format and that further implies that the Windies are a strong team that can ask difficult questions to the oppositions. However, the scripts weren’t quite the same in this World Cup.

Despite a star-studded batting order, the team had a rather disappointing time with the willow. The likes of Kieron Pollard, Andre Russell, Dwayne Bravo, Chris Gayle, and a few others were expected to pose serious threats to the opposition. The team also had good momentum by their side entering the tournament but was unable to carry on with their good form.

The team managed to beat only Bangladesh and that too in a nail-biting thriller. Their opening game against the Eoin Morgan-led side was a sheer disappointment as they could manage to score just 55 runs. The likes of Shimron Hetmyer and Roston Chase were amongst the runs in the IPL and CPL respectively but somehow couldn’t replicate the same as they didn’t look at their absolute best.

5. Afghanistan- 4.5/10

Afghanistan’s strength is their powerful bowling attack and had the batting lineup displayed a bit more dominance, it might have proved way more fruitful for the team. The team put up a strong total of 190 whilst batting first against Scotland, but they struggled to make a larger impact further.

The decision to bat first against the dominating Pakistan side did not go their way as they managed to score 147 runs at the end of their 20 overs. Against India, the side was wrapped up at just 144 runs while chasing the massive target of 211 runs.

Against New Zealand as well, they could put up just 124 runs on board. A lot of hopes were pinned on their openers but they were unable to bring out their best. Najibullah Zadran and Mohammad Nabi were the highest run-getters for the side as they amassed 172 and 127 runs respectively.

6. Sri Lanka- 5/10

Before heading into the T20 World Cup 2021, Sri Lanka had a roller coaster of a journey. One of the weaknesses of the Dasun Shanaka-led side was the consistency of the batting lineup. The middle-order did not look quite comfortable in the recent past. The team had also made a lot of changes in the middle-order batting as their scoring average was dismaying.

Sri Lanka went through the qualification rounds to make it to the super 12s. Compared to their previous outings the team looked decent with the willow in the tournament. They managed to secure two wins from five matches in the super 12s. Charith Asalanka top-scored for the team as he gathered 231 runs from six matches.

He produced some impressive shows with the willow and put Sri Lanka on the driver’s seat. But overall, the team’s batting flattered to deceive and couldn’t step up.

7. India- 6/10

India was considered one of the strongest contenders for the T20 World Cup 2021. However, the team’s batting line-up struggled in the initial two games and that did not go quite well for the side. In the opening fixture against Pakistan, the team lost quick wickets as the Men in Green outplayed India.

A half-century by Virat Kohli and a quick cameo by Rishabh Pant helped the side to put up a respectable total on the board. Against the Black Caps as well, the side struggled to gather big runs and eventually lost the match. Quite a few players of the side came in with good form by their side from the IPL but initially couldn’t score huge runs.

The opening pair and the middle order’s struggle put up a lot of pressure on the batters down the order in the initial two games. However, against Afghanistan, Scotland, and Namibia, the team appeared in good form and the batters also exuded their class.

8. South Africa- 6.5/10

South Africa was one such team that looked in control in most parts of the tournament. The Temba Bavuma-led side won four of their five matches and fetched in some splendid performances in the T20 World Cup 2021. The team displayed their repertoire by posting a massive target of 189 against the in-form England side.

The team successfully defended the total and registered victory by 10 runs. Aiden Markram was one of the key players for the side as he stood firm and took the team over the finish line. Rassie van der Dussen also showed his talent to the world by coming in with some important knocks for the side. He finished as the top run-getter for the team with 177 runs to his account.

Captain Temba Bavuma too played some important cameos. A combined effort from the middle and top-order enable the side to score pivotal runs and get the command of the game. The batting unit of the Proteas looked pretty decent in the mega event.

9. Pakistan – 8/10

Having played a lot of matches in the UAE it was expected that the Men in Green will have an edge in these playing conditions. And the team did not disappoint its fans as they lived up to the expectations. The side had a fabulous run in the tournament as they registered back-to-back victories.

The team also broke India’s 12-match winning-streak against them in the World Cups as the team chased down the target of 152 without losing a single wicket. The openers took the mantle of providing steady starts to the side and that came in as a big positive for the team. Babar Azam, who is one of the strongest links of Pakistan’s chain, made valuable contributions to the side.

Mohammad Rizwan was also lethal with the willow in the tournament. Asif Ali also impressed the cricketing fraternity with his quick-fire cameos to allow the team to put strong totals and chase down the targets as well.

The experience of Shoaib Malik also came for the team’s rescue and thus a good combination of experience and domination in the batting order enabled the team to have a pretty exceptional campaign.

10. England- 8/10

The Eoin Morgan-led side was considered as one of the strongest teams in the tournament. The team thus displayed their skill set by putting forward some magnificent performances. Jos Buttler and Jason Roy created problems for the bowlers and showed their class to the world.

Buttler also registered a century against Sri Lanka and further garnered the audacity of the team’s dominance in the mega event. He chipped in with a total of 269 runs from six matches at an average of 89.66. Jason Roy and Dawid Malan also stood firm to make important contributions for the side.

England’s squad had some quality all-rounders that shone for the team with both the bat and the ball. It is known to all that Moeen Ali is a good timer of the ball and can score quick runs. In the semi-final against the Kiwis, he hit a half-century to help the team put up a good total on the board.

11. Australia – 8.5/10

The Men in Yellow-faced some dismaying defeats in the shortest format before entering the mega event. However, the Aaron Finch-led side made sure they put on view their pure class. With some extraordinary performances, Australia managed to dominate the tournament.

What came in as the biggest positive for the side is the form of their star batter David Warner. He had a lean patch with the willow in the IPL as he registered a string of low scores. He however made a strong comeback to help the team reach the finals of the T20 World Cup 2021.

He finished as the highest run-getter of the side in the tournament and got back to his scoring ways. With the presence of Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, and Mitchell Marsh, the middle-order also looked pretty decent throughout the tournament. Keeper batter Matthew Wade also joined the party by playing a belligerent knock against Pakistan to help the team book their seat for the finals.

New Zealand- 8.5/10

The Black Caps did not enter the T20 World Cup 2021 as absolute favourites but made sure they showed their excellence to the cricketing fraternity. The Kane Williamson-led side made it to the finals of the tournament by beating the in-form England side.

Though the team lost their opening fixture against Pakistan, they bounced back stronger against India and then secured consecutive victories. Skipper Kane Williamson had an ordinary tournament, but he delivered big when it mattered the most. In the summit clash against Australia, he scored 85 runs and helped the team chip in with crucial runs.

Martin Guptill and Daryl Mitchell also walked in with some pivotal runs that strengthened the team’s batting order. Down the order, James Neesham made sure he takes up the responsibility for the side with Glenn Phillips holding the fort of New Zealand in the middle-order. Yet again the team sent a strong message to the cricketing world that they aren’t a team to be taken lightly.