USA vs PAK T20 World Cup 2024
Mohammad Aamir bowled aimlessly in the super over, conceding 18 runs including seven Wides, after which Saurabh Netravalkar conceded just 13 runs to give the USA an upset win of five runs over Pakistan in a thrilling match of Group A of the ICC T20 World Cup. This is the USA”s second consecutive win in the group stage.
In Aamir’s super over, America scored 18 runs for the loss of one wicket with the innings of Aaron James (11) and Harmeet Singh (00 not out). In reply, Pakistan’s team could score only 13 runs for the loss of one wicket in Netravkar’s over. Fakhar Zaman (00 not out), Iftikhar Ahmed (04) and Shadah Khan (03 not out) came out to bat for Pakistan.
Earlier, chasing Pakistan’s target of 160 runs, America tied the match by scoring 159 runs for the loss of three wickets with the half-century of captain Monak Patel (50 runs, 38 balls, seven fours, one six) and his 68-run partnership for the second wicket with Andries Gaus (35). Aaron Jones (36 not out in 26 balls) and Nitish Kumar (14 not out) tied the match by scoring 13 runs in the last over.
Earlier, Pakistan scored 159 runs for seven wickets with the help of captain Babar Azam’s 44 runs in 43 balls with three fours and two sixes and a 72-run partnership for the third wicket with Shadab (40). Shadab faced 25 balls and hit one four and three sixes. Left-arm spinner Nosthush Kenjige was the most successful bowler for the US, talking three wickets for 30 runs. Netravalkar took two wickets for 18 runs.
Chasing the target, America got off to cautions start with captain Monank and Steven Taylor (12) adding .36 runs for the first wicket. After hitting a four off Aamir (one wicket for 25 runs), Monank also hit two consecutive fours off Shaheen Shah Afridi. Naseem Shah 9One wicket for 26 runs) gave Pakistan the first success by getting Taylor caught by Rizwan. America scored 44 runs for one wicket in the power play.
As soon as Andries came, he showed his attitude with two fours on Naseem. He completed the team’s half-century in the seventh over with a four on Haris Rauf (one wicket for 37 runs). Andries hit the first six of the innings on Shadab while Monank welcomed Iftikhar Khan with two consecutive fours. Monank completed his half-century in just 34 balls with a four and a six on consecutive balls of Shaheen. Rauf broke this partnership by bowling Andries. He hit five fours and six in his 26-ball innings.
Amir gave a big blow to America by bowling Monank. America needed 45 runs to win in the last five overs. Aaron Jones, who scored an unbeaten half-century in America’s victory in the first match against Canada, hit a six on Shadab but Naseem and Shaheen scored six and seven runs respectively in the next two overs. American needed 21 runs in the last two overs. Aamir’s 19th over of the innings also yielded only six runs. America equalized the score with Jones’ six and Nitish’s four.
Earlier, Monank won the toss and invited Pakistan to bat, which their bowlers left no stone unturned to prove right. Pakistan lost three wickets for just 26 runs. In the second over of the innings, Steven Taylor took a brilliant catch of opener Mohammad Rizwan (09) in the slip off former Indian Under-19 cricketer Sourav Netravalkar, while in the next over, Usman Khan (03) was caught by Nitish Kumar at along off while trying to play a big shot off the ball of Nosthush Kenjige.
Fakhar Zaman (11) hit a six off the very first ball of left-arm spinner Kenjige but got caught by Taylor at short third man off the ball of fast bowler Ali Khan. Pakistan’s team could score only 30 runs for three wickets in the power play. Shadab completed the team’s half-century of runs in the 10th over with two consecutive six off fast bowler Jasdeep Singh.
Opening the innings, Babar started very slowly. After scoring 10 runs in 24 balls, he hit his first four on Jasdeep and then hit a boundary off Kenjige’s ball as well. Babar and Shadab hit sixes on left-arm spinner Harmeet Singh in the 12th over. Kenjige broke Shadab’s partnership with Babar by getting him caught by Netravalkar. This left-arm spinner also trapped Azam Khan (00) leg before wicket on the next ball, talking Pakistan’s score to 98 for five. Pakistan’s century of runs was completed in the 14th over. Babar hit a six on Jasdeep but was trapped leg before wicket in the same over. Shaheen Shah Afrid (23 not out) and Iftikhar Khan (18) played useful innings in the end and took the team’s score beyond 150 runs.