In a nail-biting T20 World Cup match held in Dallas on Thursday, the United States clinched a dramatic victory over Pakistan in a super over, marking one of the tournament’s most stunning upsets. The home side set a challenging 19-run target in the super over, which Pakistan failed to chase, managing only 13 runs.
Match Summary
The match went into a super over after the U.S. team levelled the score on the final ball of the 20th over. Initially, Pakistan was restricted to a total of 159-7, a score that seemed defendable but proved insufficient against a determined U.S. side.
The U.S. team’s chase began cautiously, with Pakistan’s Naseem Shah dismissing Steven Taylor early in his second over. However, Andries Gous and Monank Patel’s resilient partnership kept the scoreboard moving, with Gous hitting boundaries that kept the pressure on Pakistan’s bowlers.
Key Moments
Despite a steady start by Pakistan in the powerplay, the U.S. team capitalised on the middle overs. Gous and Patel’s steady batting frustrated the Pakistani bowlers, with Gous ending the powerplay at 44 for the loss of one wicket. Pakistan’s search for a second breakthrough brought on Shadab Khan, but the U.S. batsmen maintained their momentum.
The U.S. team’s efforts in the field were commendable. Left-arm spinner Nosthush Kenjige was exceptional, taking 3-30 from his four overs, including two crucial wickets in consecutive balls. Left-arm pacer Saurabh Netravalkar also impressed with figures of 2-18. Their combined efforts reduced Pakistan to 26-3 within the first five overs.
Pakistan’s Struggles
Pakistan’s batting lineup showed resilience through a 72-run partnership between skipper Babar Azam (44) and Shadab Khan (40), but it was not enough to set a formidable target. Reflecting on the match, Babar Azam acknowledged his team’s tendency to underestimate less established teams, which has been a recurring issue in major tournaments.
Babar pointed out that despite thorough preparations, Pakistan failed to execute their plans effectively against the U.S. team. He lamented the lack of wickets in the early stages of the U.S. innings and acknowledged the impact of the 68-run partnership between Patel and Gous.
Looking Ahead
Following this unexpected defeat, Babar Azam emphasised the need for his team to improve across all departments. “We are better than that in the bowling, we aren’t taking wickets in the first six overs. In the middle overs, if your spinner is not taking wickets then pressure is on us,” he said.
The focus now shifts to Pakistan’s next match, a highly anticipated encounter against arch-rivals India in New York on Sunday. This match will be crucial for Pakistan as they seek to regain their form and confidence in the tournament.