Pakistan almost got over the line until Haris Rauf was hit for a four over mid-off to tie the scores, which took their Group A game against co-hosts USA in the
T20 World Cup
on Thursday to a 'Super Over'. But
Babar Azam
& Co wilted under pressure in the tie-breaker and succumbed to an upset defeat that US cricket will remember for the time to come.
After both the teams ended up scoring 159, the 'Super Over' decided the winner, where USA (18 runs) beat the Pakistan team (13 runs).
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The defeat understandably disappointed Pakistan fans, experts and former cricketers, who were heartbroken after their team's deplorable performance.
"Ek hi dil hai, kitni baar todoge (just one heart, how many times will you break it)? " said a Pakistan woman of British origin, questioning the Pakistan team.
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"Jetate kum hain, haarte zyada hain...aap kab performance dikhayenge?...aap bas hawa mei baatein karte hain, kuchh dikhate to nahi hain...Ab to aise lag raha hai ke bas jaise aap ghoomne aate hain aur jaise taise khel ke chale jaate hain...Meri literally bas ho gayi hai..aap logon nei mazak samjha hua hai," the fan, almost on the verge of tears, lamented.
(English translation: You lose more than winning. When will you show some performance? You guys only talk in the air, don't actually do anything. Now it seems you come like tourists, play in whatever way, and go back. I am done. You guys have turned this into a joke.)
Saurabh Netravalkar
, an engineer from Mumbai who has now settled in the US, bowled the Super Over for USA, and held his nerves far better than the experienced Mohammad Amir, who was erratic with his line and conceded 7 runs as wides in the tie-breaker.
USA, who now have two wins from as many matches and sit on top of Group A, registered their second T20I win over a Test-playing nation in under a month. They had defeated Bangladesh to win the T20I series ahead of the T20 World Cup.
It is Pakistan's first defeat in T20Is against a non-full-ICC-member team.
The 2009 champions now stare at the possibility of being virtually knocked out if they lose to archrivals India in their next match on June 9 in New York.
English (US) ·