Thrillers galore: The five best matches of T20 World Cup so far
When India take on Pakistan at any level there is always a lot of excitement and plenty of anticipation, but this MCG contest was a classic of epic proportions as Virat Kohli produced an innings for the ages (82* off 53 balls) to lead his side to a thrilling victory.
The atmosphere outside the ground prior to the match was electric and the action inside the arena was even more jaw-dropping as Pakistan posted a competitive total of 159/8 on the back of half-centuries to Shan Masood (52*) and Iftikhar Ahmed (51).
Things didn’t look good for India when they lost KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav inside their batting Powerplay to be reduced to 26/3 in reply, but they got an innings from Kohli that will be talked about for many years to come.
We go behind the scenes after India's sensational win over Pakistan in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup!
The former skipper combined well with Hardik Pandya (40) for a partnership of 113 to keep India in the game, before producing some late heroics to win the game for his side.
Kohli smashed consecutive sixes from the final two deliveries of the penultimate over off the bowling of Haris Rauf, leading to a final over from Mohammad Nawaz that had to be seen to be believed.
There were wickets lost, waist high no balls, free hits, sixes, wides and byes in an action-packed final over that eventually saw India prevail by four wickets in a memorable encounter.
Match highlights of India snatching an ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022 thriller from Pakistan after a masterclass from Virat Kohli propelled them toward a stunning victory off the final ball.
This clash was another prime example that the best T20I contests don't necessarily have to be high-scoring as Sikandar Raza led Zimbabwe to a narrow one-run triumph over Pakistan in yet another final over thriller.
Raza, like many of his team-mates, failed with the bat as the African side managed to compile 130/8 from their 20 overs and many thought that would be a procession for the talented Pakistan batting line-up led by skipper Babar Azam.
But they didn't count on Raza producing some heroics with the ball and conspiring Zimbabwe to a memorable victory on the back of some unexpected inspiration from Australia legend Ricky Ponting.
Raza picked up three wickets with the ball and played a pivotal role in inflicting the final dagger in Pakistan's hearts with the run out from the final ball to clinch the contest for his side.
The Zimbabwe veteran then revealed after the game that he had watched a video on ICC social channels before the match that had Ponting talking about his recent heroics in white-ball cricket.
Spurred on by the powerful words from the Australian great, Raza produced an individual performance of the highest merit to keep Zimbabwe in contention for an unlikely semi-final berth at the event.
Match Highlights: Zimbabwe stun Pakistan at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022
Ireland looked dead and buried when they were reduced to 61/4 in the 10th over of their pursuit of Scotland's lofty total of 176/5, but Curtis Campher (72*) and George Dockrell (39) produced a partnership worthy of winning any contest.
The duo put on an unbeaten stand of 119 from just 57 deliveries to help Ireland clinch victory on the final delivery on the penultimate over and send them on their way to a Super 12 berth.
The chase was Ireland's highest ever successful run chase in T20I cricket and Campher and Dockrell’s stand was the highest ever partnership by Ireland in T20 World Cup history.
This one looked like being a mere procession when Max O'Dowd got the Netherlands off to a flier in their quest to chase down 111/8, but UAE's bowlers combined to send a major ripple through the Dutch camp.
From cruising at 59/2, the Netherlands were quickly reduced to 76/6 in the 14th over and UAE looked to be on track for an unlikely victory when Tim Pringle was bowled midway through the second last over and with nine runs still required.
But skipper Scott Edwards (16*) and bowler Logan van Beek (4*) held their nerve to clinch a victory on the penultimate delivery of the contest and send the Dutch camp into hysterics.
Geelong was once again the venue for this epic First Round clash and it was a classic case of joy versus despair as the UAE registered their first victory at a T20 World Cup and bundled David Wiese and Namibia out of the tournament.
Namibia looked to be in all sorts when Wiese strode to the crease with the score at 46/5 in pursuit of UAE's competitive total of 148/3, but the veteran all-rounder almost choreographed a victory that would have been one of the best of all time.
Wiese hit three fours and three massive sixes during his knock of 55 and he had Namibia on the cusp of victory with 14 required from the final over with Muhammad Waseem to bowl.
But Wiese was left a shattered man when he was dismissed from the fourth delivery of the final over as UAE hung on to create history in an unforgettable encounter.