The Champions League is also commonly known as CLT20. It is the tournament held annually on an International level between top teams of major Cricketing nations. This tournament was launched in the year 2008. The first tournament of this league was to be played in 2008, but due to the Mumbai attack in the same year the tournament got cancelled.
After that, the tournament occurred in 2009 and was hosted by India. The latest Champions League Twenty20 tournament was played in 2014 in India. It’s a 20-20 format league. These tournaments are managed and organised jointly by BCCI, Cricket Australia, and Cricket South Africa.
The Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Champions League T20 and Indian Premier League is Mr Sundar Raman. The tournament used to take place during September and October month which is played in a period of two to three weeks.
Top 10 Moments of Champions League T20
1. Northern Knights Vs Southern Express
In the Sixth edition of Champions League 20. The match was played between Northern Knights and Southern Express. It was the qualifier match. Both the teams were in excellent form. Initially, rain interrupted the play, and the match got shortened. The Souther pacers were in terrific form and performed very well. The match had a very stunning moment to be remembered. The Northern Knights dropped 5 catches and still ended up winning with 7 wickets.
2. Lahore Lions vs Mumbai Indians
The match between Lahore Lions and Mumbai Indians was very challenging. The defending champion wanted to make the match draw. But things were going differently. Umar Akmal, on the other side, was in excellent form and Lahore Lions needed 38 from 18 balls. Umar Akmal made a rememberable moment for its team and Lahore lions won it by 6 wickets. On the other day, it was Lions vs Knights. Knights scored 170 runs and Lahore Lions need 171 runs to win. Saad Nasim scored 58 runs and Lahore Lions gained a big win.
3. Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders
It was the match between Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders. Chennai came out to bat first and after struggling with their batting performance and at last, somehow reached the total of 158 runs as it was a slow pitch. Kolkata came out to chase, and the team got a terrible start and it was 51 for 5 and the situation was becoming worse. After that Andre Russell and Doeschate were on the crease and this pair knocked 80 runs in just 45 deliveries, which lead Kolkata to a wonderful win and this moment became one of the best in the history of cricket.
4. Cape Cobras vs Knights
Cape Cobras had no answer for Kane Williamson, who smashed 8 fours 5 sixes in just 48 balls century, his first in T20 cricket, just 2 months after being banned from bowling in international cricket for an illegal action. If rain doesn’t get involved, it shortened the Cobra’s innings to just 7.2 overs; the knight’s margin to victory may have been well over 33 runs. Sometimes rain becomes an important factor that just immediately turns the match scenario. This all this becomes very interesting and a special moment in the history of cricket.
5. Perth Scorchers vs Dolphins
When you need 2 points in two balls and Robbie Frylinck is assaulting the blockhole, most teams wouldn’t bet on themselves to win. Perth Scorchers, however, is one of them. Mitchell Marsh, the Australian all-rounder, smashed the penultimate ball, a waist-high full toss, over the leg side boundary for six, before securing the game with another massive knock over long-on.
6. Cape Cobras vs Hobart Hurricanes
The Cobras were blown away by another batting masterpiece 2 days after being rocked by Williamson. Aiden Blizzard smashed 78 runs off just 48 balls to help Hobart Hurricanes to win by six wickets. Blizzard appeared to have been caught in the 18th over with the hurricane still needing 38 from 17, but Vernon Philander has stepped over the line for a no-ball. Blizzard made the most of the respite, smacking 26 off 7 deliveries to help his team cross the line with 6 balls to spare.
7. Dolphins vs Chennai Super Kings
The Dolphins qualified for the Champions League as the domestic T20 champions of South Africa. However, they like the other South Africa squad. Suresh Raina 90 of just 43 balls helped the team to reach 242 for 6 and a 54 runs victory. The game between the Dolphins and Chennai Super Kings is likely to be remembered for Brendon McCullum’s amazing boundary save. McCullum sprang to save a slog & grab the ball, only to realise he would fall outside the boundary. McCullum realises the ball back over the rope with a flick of his right wrist as he turned almost parallel to the ground and landed smoothly, his left arm bearing the weight of his body.
8. Hobart Hurricanes vs Kolkata Knight Riders
Ben Laughlin of the Hobart Hurricanes had another remarkable fielding performance against the knights. At a point, Laughlin flew to his right & held onto a chance against Anton Devcich. The hurricane 86 runs thumping kept their playoff hopes alive. During a dominating batting performance that enabled the knights to grind along to 13 wins, Robin Uthappa blasted some stunning drives against the hurricanes but wasn’t afraid to bring out the lap shot into action. It became a historic moment in the history of cricket.
9. Lahore Lions vs Perth Scorchers
As the competition for a semi-final position tightened, Lahore Lions, like the qualification stage, left things a little late. They were held to 124 for 6 against the Perth Scorchers, but they came close to advancing to the semi-finals when they reduced the opposition to 40 for 6. Mitchell Marsh and Brad Hogg joined hands to oppose the side and Mohammad Hafeez pleading were in vain.
10. Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders
Suresh Raina smashed an undefeated 109. It was his 3rd T20 Century, to lead Chennai Super Kings to the Champions League triumph. The Kolkata Knight Riders spin attack was treated almost dismissively without Narine, as the batsmen sliced sixes down the ground at whim to aid his team chase down 181 with more than an over to spare. These all special moments become historic in the world of cricket.
