DALLAS: In a massive upset, the United States of America (USA) defeated Pakistan by six runs after a thrilling Super Over in their second match of the ICC Men’s T20I World Cup 2024 at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas here on Thursday. Pakistan 159-7 & 13-1 and USA 159-3 & 18-1. Pakistan, with all their experience, failed to capitalise on the chances the USA gave them.
With this dramatic Super Over victory, USA maintained an unbeaten start to their T20I World Cup campaign and went right on top of the points table in Group A, overtaking India.
The USA restricted Pakistan to 159-7 off their 20 overs before Nitish Kumar (14) hit the final ball of the innings to the boundary to force a Super Over.
In the Super Over, Mohammad Amir gave away 18 runs. He started by giving away a boundary to Jones, who cleared the third-man region easily. Thereafter, Jones took a couple followed by a single as Amir tried to hit the block hole. Amir bowled a wide and Jones took it as a chance to sneak in a bye. In the end, the USA set Pakistan a target of 19. In the Super Over, USA managed 18 runs which included only ten runs off the bat.
In response, Netravalkar started with a dot ball for the USA and gave away a four in the second. He seemed nervous after he gave away a wide, but made amends with the wicket of Iftikhar Ahmed. With 7 needed off the last ball, Shadab could only take a single.
Earlier, after being asked to bat first, Pakistan got off to a start equivalent to a nightmare, scoring 30 runs in the powerplay and losing the wickets of Mohammad Rizwan, Fakhar Zaman and Usman Khan. Skipper Babar Azam, at the other end, made a sedate start as he soaked in the pressure. Babar Azam and Shadab Khan helped Pakistan recover with a handy partnership of 72 runs for the fourth wicket off 8 overs.
Shadab Khan was the aggressor in the partnership as he scored 40 runs off 25 balls with a four and 3 sixes. Babar Azam also upped the ante to finish on 44 off 23 deliveries. Just when it seemed that the duo would step further on the gas, Nosthush Kenjige came to the party for the USA. The left-arm spinner dismissed Shadab, after which he sent back the out-of-form Azam Khan for a golden duck.
Kenjige was the pick of the bowlers for the USA after he finished with impressive figures of 4-0-30-3. In the end, Shaheen Shah Afridi played some shots and lifted Pakistan to 159 for 7. Saurabh Netravalkar, a former India U19 cricketer, also rattled Babar’s men with a spell of 4-0-18-2. Ali Khan and Jasdeep Singh accounted for a wicket apiece.
View this post on Instagram
USA made a promising start to their run-chase after Steven Taylor and Monank Patel stitched together a partnership of 36 runs for the opening wicket off 5.1 overs. Naseem Shah gave Pakistan the much-needed breakthrough after dismissing Taylor, who scored 12 off 16 balls.
From there on, skipper Monank took charge and got to his half-century off 34 balls. It was his partnership of 68 runs with Andries Gous that made the USA the first favourites to win. Gous raced his way to scoring 35 off 26 with 5 fours and 1 six before Haris Rauf rattled his woodwork. The duo made sure that the USA was always in touch with the required run rate.
Mohammad Amir jolted the USA with a big blow after getting rid of Monank, who made 50 off 38. With the required run rate hovering around 10, the onus was on Aaron Jones, the hero of the match against Canada, to take the USA home.
With 12 runs needed off the last over, Jones hit Rauf for a six over mid-wicket followed by a four to take the match into a Super Over. Jones held his nerves to stay not out on 36 off 26, yet again giving an account of his temperament.
Earlier at the toss, USA skipper Monak Patel defended his decision of bowling first saying that chasing is easier and they did the same in their previous match against Canada.
“Chasing here is easier,” said USA captain Monak Patel at the toss as quoted by ESPN Cricinfo. “The way we chased down total was entertaining. Have momentum, and want to continue that. Excited for this challenge.”
The Green Shirts, who aimed to start their campaign with a victory, have played four pacers in the team with two all-rounders, and five batters including a wicketkeeper.
The USA had won the match by seven wickets as they chased 195 runs.
USA Playing XI
Steven Taylor, Monank Patel (capt, wk), Andries Gous, Aaron Jones, Nitish Kumar, Corey Anderson, Harmeet Singh, Jasdeep Singh, Nosthush Kenjige, Saurabh Netravalkar, Ali Khan
Pakistan Playing XI
Babar Azam (capt), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Usman Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Azam Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Amir, Haris Rauf
