NEW DELHI: The
United States
enjoyed arguably the greatest day in their cricket history, stunning
Pakistan
with a
Super Over
victory at the
T20 World Cup
in Dallas on Thursday.
Both teams scored 159 in their regulation 20 overs, leading to a Super Over in this Group A match held at Grand Prairie, near Dallas, Texas. The United States set Pakistan a target of 19 runs to win in the Super Over.
India-born paceman
Saurabh Netravalkar
held his nerve as Pakistan, runners-up at the 2022 T20 World Cup and champions in 2009, managed only 13-1 in reply.
Earlier, Pakistan was restricted to 159-7 after being sent into bat in their first match of the tournament, with Netravalkar delivering an economical spell of 2-18. The United States innings ended dramatically, with Nitish Kumar hitting a four off the last ball from Haris Rauf, bringing the score to 159-3.
In the Super Over, Pakistan's Mohammad Amir bowled several wides, and panic fielding led to overthrows, helping the United States accumulate 18 runs. Netravalkar then dismissed Iftikhar Ahmed, brilliantly caught in the deep by Kumar, confirmed after a lengthy check by third umpire Paul Reiffel.
With seven needed off the last ball, Shadab Khan couldn't manage the required six, sparking wild celebrations among the USA team and their home fans.
This victory is a landmark result in modern American cricket, even considering their recent 2-1 ODI series win over Bangladesh. Pakistan now faces a quick turnaround before their next match against arch-rivals India in New York on Sunday.
The United States were cruising at 104-1 in the 14th over but were reduced to 111-3 when India-born captain Monank Patel was caught behind off Amir for exactly 50. Earlier, left-arm spinner Nosthush Kenjige, who opened the bowling, took 3-30, including two wickets in two balls, from his four overs.
Pakistan found themselves in trouble at 26-3 before a 72-run partnership between skipper
Babar Azam
(44) and Shadab Khan (40) bolstered their total. Mohammad Rizwan was caught one-handed at slip by
Steven Taylor
off Netravalkar, and Usman Khan holed out off Kenjige, leaving Pakistan at 14-2.
Shadab and Azam Khan fell in successive balls to Kenjige, but tailender
Shaheen Shah Afridi
's 23 not out gave Pakistan some hope, which ultimately proved insufficient.
(With AFP inputs)
English (US) ·