USA
USA Stuns Cricketing Superpower Pakistan. In a thrilling encounter at the T20 World Cup, newcomers USA pulled off a monumental upset by defeating former champions Pakistan via a Super Over on Thursday. This victory, reminiscent of Pakistan’s shocking defeat to Ireland in the 2007 ODI World Cup, underscored the current turmoil in Pakistan’s cricket scene. With this win, USA surged to the top of Group A, boasting two wins from two matches, ahead of their highly anticipated clash against India. Earlier, USA had convincingly beaten Canada by seven wickets in their opener.
Strong Start by USA’s Bowlers
Opting to field first, USA’s left-arm spinner Nosthush Kenjige led the bowling attack with a stellar performance, taking three wickets for 30 runs. Pakistan struggled to accelerate, finishing with a modest 159 for seven.
USA’s chase was marked by solid contributions from skipper Monank Patel (50 off 38), Aaron Jones (36 not out off 26), and Andries Gous (35 off 26), equaling Pakistan’s score at 159 for three.
Super Over Heroics
The Super Over, bowled by Pakistan’s Mohammad Amir, saw USA accumulate 18 runs, aided by eight extras. Saurabh Netravalkar then bowled brilliantly, conceding just 13 runs, securing a famous victory for USA. Adding to Pakistan’s embarrassment, they delayed their entry to bat in the Super Over, prompting intervention from the on-field umpires.
Early Breakthroughs and Steady Chasing
USA’s decision to bowl first paid off immediately as Mohammad Rizwan was dismissed in the second over, caught by Steven Taylor off Netravalkar (2/18). USA began their chase brightly, scoring 44 runs in the powerplay.
Monank Patel’s aggressive batting set the tone, hitting consecutive boundaries off Shaheen Shah Afridi. Naseem Shah provided Pakistan with a breakthrough when Taylor edged one to Rizwan. However, Andries Gous maintained the momentum with elegant strokes, particularly square of the wicket.
Key Partnerships and a Tight Finish
Patel and Gous shared a crucial 68-run stand before Rauf dismissed Gous with a quick delivery. Patel continued his onslaught, reaching his half-century off 34 balls before falling to Mohammad Amir. Aaron Jones and Nitish Kumar then guided USA to the Super Over with a composed partnership. Jones, needing 12 off three balls, smashed a six off Rauf, bringing the equation down to five off the last ball.
Pakistan’s Struggles with the Bat
Pakistan’s innings faced early setbacks as Usman Khan mistimed a Kenjige delivery, and Fakhar Zaman’s aggressive attempt ended in a simple catch to Taylor. Reduced to 26 for three, Pakistan’s middle order had to rebuild. Shadab Khan (40 off 25) and skipper Babar Azam (44 off 43) led the recovery, with Azam surpassing Virat Kohli’s T20I record.
Kenjige’s crucial wickets of Shadab and Azam Khan in the 13th over swung the momentum back to USA. Azam Khan’s review for a caught-behind decision was upheld, further adding to Pakistan’s woes.
Late Contributions and Record Shattered
In the final overs, Iftikhar Ahmed (18 off 14) and Shaheen Shah Afridi (23 not out off 16) helped Pakistan cross the 150-run mark. Despite Babar Azam’s record-breaking performance, he faced criticism for his slow-paced innings, unable to prevent Pakistan from suffering a dramatic defeat against co-hosts USA.
USA’s stunning victory not only highlights their rising prowess in international cricket but also raises questions about Pakistan’s consistency and strategy in high-pressure matches.
