The United States secured potentially the biggest Cricket World Cup of all time on Thursday when they defeated Pakistan after a super over against the international giants.
Captain Monank Patel starred with the bat and then Saurabh Netravalkar with the ball as the hosts produced ecstatic scenes in Texas as Pakistan hung their heads after their most disappointing ever defeat.
The victory gave the US hope of reaching the last eight of the competition as the sport looks to grow again in the country after an exodus from the sport.
But how does this situation compare in the greatest sport of all time, compared to Anthony Joshua’s first defeat and Leicester’s victory in the Premier League?
Mail Sport has compiled a list of the 10 biggest sporting disasters of all time.
The US defeated Pakistan on Thursday at the Cricket World Cup in one of the sport’s biggest upsets of all time
The host nation defeated the cricketing giants and gave themselves a chance to reach the last eight
Mail Sport has assessed how the victory compares to some of the biggest upsets in sporting history
10. Hereford defeated Newcastle
In 1972, non-league Hereford took on First Division Newcastle in an FA Cup third round replay at Edgar Street.
For Hereford it was another chance at history after a 2-2 draw in the original match. For the Magpies it was a chance to put things right after a near embarrassment at home.
However, they failed. Malcolm Macdonald appeared to have eased the nerves by putting the visitors 1-0 up with eight minutes to play, but Ronald Radford equalized moments later and Richard George’s extra-time goal secured one of the biggest upsets in football history.
9. Anthony Joshua’s first loss
Anthony Joshua was the most popular heavyweight in the world, entering his heavyweight title fight against Andy Ruiz Jnr in June 2019.
He was expected to score a comfortable victory as he continued his rampage towards a potential fight with Deontay Wilder or Tyson Fury, with a little-known, apparently overweight Ruiz, who had replaced Jarrell Miller on short notice, in the other corner. .
However, things went terribly wrong. Joshua was knocked down four times when the fight was stopped, leading to one of the sport’s biggest upsets ever.
Joshua would win the rematch comfortably, with Ruiz disappearing from the top of the heavyweight scene shortly afterwards.
Anthony Joshua (centre) suffered the first defeat of his career in 2019 when he was toppled by Andy Ruiz Jnr (right)
Ruiz intervened on short notice and knocked Joshua down four times before losing the rematch
8. Japan upset South Africa
Unsurprisingly, Japan’s victory over then two-time champions South Africa in the opening match of the 2015 World Cup was hailed as Rugby Union’s greatest ever.
Karne Hesketh crossed the line in the final minute of the match to secure victory for his side, giving Japan their first World Cup victory in 24 years. South Africa became champions in 1995 and 2007 and won the trophy in 2019 and 2023.
7. Saudi Arabia shocks Argentina
Argentina’s loss to Saudi Arabia in the 2022 World Cup group stage is now long forgotten. Lionel Messi and Co would recover to win the league, but it wasn’t all so rosy.
Messi had sent his side on their way with a 10th-minute penalty in the Group C match before Saleh Alshehri and Salem Aldawsarri scored the eyebrow-raising goal.
The eventual champions did not return, jeopardizing their chances of progressing from the group. However, everything turned out fine in the end.
Saudi Arabia defeated Lionel Messi and Argentina in the group stage of the 2022 World Cup
The losers barely made it through the groups and recovered to advance and win the competition
6. Miracle on ice
The Soviet Union was dominant in ice hockey before the Miracle on Ice at the 1980 Winter Olympics. They had won gold in five of the previous six tournaments and defended four-time gold medalists.
While the favorites team had a number of professional players in its ranks, the US mainly had amateur players. However, that didn’t stop them and they won 4-3.
5. The US overthrows Pakistan
It was the result that no one saw coming. The US was only supposed to be there to make up the numbers, in the form of Pakistan’s bid to lift the title after missing out in the final against England last time out.
But after being at just 159 for three with the ball, they sensed an opportunity and were well into it, with Patel, Andries Gous and Aaron Jones doing well. However, a good comeback from Pakistan ensured the scores were level after 40 overs.
A disastrous super over from Mohammad Amir left Pakistan needing 19 to win. They scored 14, meaning the upset was complete.
The USA, a team of amateurs, defeated four-time defending champions the Soviet Union to capture ice hockey gold at the 1980 Winter Olympics
Emma Raducanu shocked the world by winning the 2021 US Open as an 18-year-old qualifier
4. Raducanu wins the US Open
Unseeded Emma Raducanu was alone at the 2021 US Open as a qualifier. There were high expectations for the British 18-year-old, but not yet.
After making her Grand Slam debut at Wimbledon earlier that year, fans were eager to see how far she could go, and she didn’t stop.
She defeated Stefanie Vogele, then Zhang Shuai and then Sara Sorribes Tormo, all in straight sets. She had already exceeded expectations, but pushed on and defeated Shelby Nicole Rogers and Belinga Bencic in straight sets to reach the semi-finals.
Maria Sakkari was defeated with ease, before Leylah Fernandez was also pushed aside to complete a tournament of dominance. Since then, the success hasn’t been the same, with Raducanu at number 212 in the rankings after a plethora of injuries and coaching changes.
3. Greece wins the European Championship
Greece built its success at the 2004 European Championship on rigid defense and narrow victories, and kept it up until the end.
They limped their way out of the groups after losing to Russia in the final match, but recorded 1-0 wins over France and the Czech Republic to find themselves in the final against Portugal.
They had already beaten Cristiano Ronaldo and Co in the group, but they certainly wouldn’t do the same against a star-studded side that also featured Luis Figo and Deco.
However, they won again 1-0 and thus achieved the most famous European Championship victory of all time.
Greece recorded three 1-0 victories in the knockout stages of Euro 2004 to win the championship
2. Leicester wins the Premier League
It was the 5000-1 bet that led to Gary Lineker presenting the Match of the Day in his underwear.
In a league dominated by big-spending global dominators such as Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United, Leicester had virtually no chance. They were lucky to survive relegation the year before, and the appointment of Claudio Ranieri left more questions than it answered.
Heroes were born. Jamie Vardy, Riyad Mahrez and Ngolo Kante had the seasons of a lifetime to write their names into folklore and secure a first Premier League title for Leicester City, who beat Arsenal – and Tottenham – on the post.
Ranieri was sacked just months later and the Foxes were relegated seven years later.
Leicester’s 2016 Premier League title win remains the biggest shock in the competition’s history
Previously undefeated Mike Tyson (left) was knocked out by James Douglas (right) in 1990
1. Douglas knocks out Tyson
Mike Tyson was a global superstar, the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world and had won his previous fight in 93 seconds.
Like Joshua, Tyson’s 1990 fight with James Douglas was expected to be just a step up the ladder to face Evander Holyfield. Douglas lost last time and had mixed success in his career.
Douglas’ mother died 23 days before the fight, but he continued. That continued throughout the fight, with the underdog looking impressive from the start. He was dropped in the eighth round but continued.
Tyson was knocked down in the 10th round for the first time in his career and failed to make it to county, leaving Douglas in tears. Tyson would recover, but ended up losing back-to-back to Holyfield.