5 best World T20 Super 10s performances

The World T20 in Bangladesh has reached its business end.

The semi-final line-up is decided. While Sri Lanka take on the West Indies in a repeat of the 2012 final, Team India, champions of the inaugural edition in 2007, meet South Africa.

Even as we wait for those matches to commence, here’s a look at some of the best efforts in the Super 10s.

Dale Steyn

4-17 vs New Zealand

In what is essentially a batsman's game, we start with the exploits of a bowler.

Even his harshest of critics will admit that in contemporary cricket Dale Steyn is the world’s best bowler. Yes, across all the three formats!

The South African further bolstered his credentials by single-handedly destroying New Zealand in Chittagong.

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When the 30-year-old came in to bowl the final over, New Zealand required just seven runs to win, and with Ross Taylor (62) at the crease, it seemed a certainty.

Steyn, though, wasn't prepared to give in.

He had Luke Ronchi (5) caught behind off the first ball, and then sent down two dot balls.

Nathan McCullum did score a boundary over extra-cover off the fourth delivery, but the bowler’s reaction was immediate. He had the batsman caught by Faf du Plessis in the same area.

However, Taylor did cross over to face the last ball, off which three runs were needed.

Having cramped the batsman for room, Steyn was quick to react and run Taylor out at the non-striker's end.

New Zealand needed seven runs to win. They managed just four.

Steyn earned South Africa a vital two-run victory.

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Umar Akmal

94 vs Australia

One of the most talented batsmen in contemporary cricket, Umar Akmal is yet to live up to the huge expectations of him.

Pakistan’s Group 2 match against Australia provided yet another glimpse of his batting genius.

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With Pakistan having lost two early wickets, Umar joined brother Kamran (31) at the crease and took the game away from Australia.

Having added 96 for the third wicket with his bother, Umar helped Pakistan amass a mammoth 191 for five.

His 54-ball effort was inclusive of nine hits to the fence and four over it.

Suffice to say, he deserved a century. But what mattered was his effort. It gave Pakistan a 16-run victory.

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Alex Hales

116 not out vs Sri Lanka

Batting first in the Group I game at Chittagong, Sri Lanka amassed 189 for four.

It was a stiff target for England. To make matters worse, they lost two wickets without a run on the board.

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The chase seemed a lost cause.

Well, Alex Hales didn't think so.

He bludgeoned the Sri Lankan attack into submission, hitting 11 boundaries and six huge sixes.

He not only added 152 runs, off just 92 balls, for the third wicket with Eoin Morgan (57), a partnership that laid the foundation of the England innings, but also remained till the end to ensure the job was done.

In the process, he completed a well-deserved hundred.

For the record, England won by six wickets, with four balls to spare.

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Rangana Herath

5-3 vs New Zealand

How do you get out for 60 when one guy gets 40-odd?

That question was asked by New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum, at the press conference following his side's 59-run defeat to Sri Lanka in Chittagong.

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Trent Boult and company had kept Sri Lanka down to just 119 and New Zealand had no business losing this 'must win' game.

Rangana Herath had other plans, though. The spinner ran through the Kiwi top order to record the third best bowling figures ever in T20 competition – compatriot Ajanth Mendis owns the first two.

His figures of 3.3-2-3-5 not only gave the Lankans a place in the semi-finals but also made for wonderful reading.

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The Netherlands side

We end with the mention of the Dutch side. They certainly impressed with their performances in the competition.

Having achieved a mammoth chase of 190 against Ireland to make the tournament proper, the Netherlands were pathetic in their opening match against Sri Lanka, getting shot out for just 39.

However, they regrouped well after that disaster. They should have beaten South Africa, had it under control against New Zealand and, finally, shocked England in their last Super 10 match.

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In fact, the English were 'Double-Dutched', having lost to the same team in the 2009 edition as well.

Having been restricted to just 133 for five by Stuart Broad’s side, the Netherlands bowled them out for just 88.

The 45-run victory at Chiitagong wasn't just a great result for a team that no longer has ODI status, but also a great one for the Associate nations as a whole.

'When you win by 45 runs in a T20, it wasn't really close. Was it?' Peter Borren said at the post-match presser.

The Netherlands captain was right!