Indonesia Clinches Dramatic Last-Ball Victory Over South Korea in T20 World Cup East Asia-Pacific Qualifier

In a closely contested match at the Yeonhui Cricket Ground, Incheon, Indonesia edged past South Korea by 2 wickets with just one ball remaining in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup East Asia-Pacific Region Qualifier B on September 28, 2024. Despite a remarkable bowling performance by AN Hyobeom, who took 3/8, Indonesia managed to chase down the modest target of 100 to secure a vital win in the qualifier.

Key Highlights:

1. AN Hyobeom’s Bowling Masterclass: Hyobeom was the star performer for South Korea, delivering a superb spell, taking 3 wickets for just 8 runs in his 3 overs. His efforts put Indonesia under tremendous pressure, but the target proved to be just within reach for the visitors.
2. Late Drama in the Chase: Chasing a modest target of 100, Indonesia found themselves struggling at 88/8 in the 18th over. However, a composed partnership between Gaurav Tiwari (18)* and Ketut Artawan (7)* saw them through with just one ball to spare.
3. Danilson Hawoe’s Crucial Contributions: Hawoe played a pivotal role for Indonesia, not only with the ball, taking 2/24, but also scoring a steady 9 off 15 with the bat, ensuring Indonesia stayed in the contest.
4. South Korea’s Batting Struggles: South Korea’s top order struggled to build partnerships, with only Raja Shoaib (23) and Balage Dilruksha (23) contributing meaningful runs. Indonesia’s disciplined bowling, led by Ferdinando Banunaek (3/14), restricted them to 99/6 in their 20 overs.

Key Moments:

• Hyobeom’s Impactful Spell: Hyobeom’s back-to-back wickets in the middle overs gave South Korea hope, but the target of 100 proved to be just short for them to defend.
• Indonesia’s Steady Chase: Despite a shaky start and middle-order collapse, Gaurav Tiwari’s calm innings guided Indonesia to a nail-biting win, with Ketut Artawan’s boundary in the final over sealing the victory.
• South Korea’s Late Surge: With Indonesia at 88/8, it appeared South Korea might pull off an upset, but a flurry of extras and a dropped chance in the final overs cost them the game.

Brief Scores:

South Korea: 99/6 in 20 overs (Raja Shoaib 23, Balage Dilruksha 23; Ferdinando Banunaek 3/14, Danilson Hawoe 2/24)
Indonesia: 100/8 in 19.5 overs (Gaurav Tiwari 18*, Kirubasankar Ramamoorthy 13; AN Hyobeom 3/8, Aamir Lal 2/25)
Result: Indonesia won by 2 wickets (with 1 ball remaining)
Player of the Match: AN Hyobeom (South Korea) – 3/8

Despite AN Hyobeom’s exceptional bowling performance, South Korea fell short of defending a modest total, allowing Indonesia to claim a thrilling 2-wicket victory in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup East Asia-Pacific Region Qualifier B. Indonesia’s ability to hold their nerve in a tense chase leaves them in a strong position moving forward in the qualifiers.