In an absolutely thrilling performance the newcomers of the T20 World Cup, Team USA, beat former champions Pakistan in a Super Over to record their biggest win in a T20 World Cup match.
With two wins, USA is now at the top of Group A. They had defeated Canada by seven wickets in their opening match.
The result was reminiscent of Pakistan’s three-wicket loss to Ireland in the 2007 ODI World Cup in the West Indies, which knocked them out of that tournament.
Opting to field, left-arm spinner Nosthush Kenjige took three wickets for 30 runs, making it difficult for Pakistan to accelerate. As a result, they were restricted to 159 for seven.
In their chase, USA equalled the score at the loss of three wickets with skipper Monank Patel (50 off 38), Aaron Jones (36 not out of 26) and Andries Gous (35 off 26) shouldering the responsibility. In the Super Over bowled by Mohammad Amir, the USA scored 18 runs, with eight of those runs coming from extras.
USA’s Saurabh Netravalkar remained composed and bowled brilliantly, conceding just 13 runs to secure the win.
‘We failed to assess conditions’
Pakistan captain Babar Azam reacted to the team’s loss and said that they failed to assess the conditions, and were out performed by the USA with both bat and ball in the match.
“First 6 overs while batting we didn’t capitalise. Back-to-back wickets always put you on the back foot, as a batter you need to step up and build partnerships. We were not up to the mark in the first 6 overs with the ball. Our spinners also did not take wickets in the middle overs so these things cost us,” he said at the post-match presentation ceremony.
He also acknowledged that the USA played better than the Pakistani team in all three departments.
(With PTI inputs)