Thursday’s “biggest win in U.S. cricket history” also included a standout performance from Auburn-born bowler Nostash Kensige.
The United States recorded a Super Over victory over Pakistan in the International Cricket Council Men’s T20 World Cup at Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium in Grand Prairie, Texas. The United States defeated Pakistan 18-13 in the Super Over, a tiebreaker format with six extra balls for each team, to win by five runs.
Pakistan was runner-up to England in the last ICC T20 World Cup, held in Australia in 2022. The country entered the tournament ranked sixth in the world. The United States is ranked 18th.
Kensige, a left-arm orthodox spinner, took up the bowling duties for the US along with Saurabh Netravalkar on Thursday.
Kenjige was born in Alabama while his father was working as an agricultural researcher at Tuskegee University, and when Kenjige was a toddler, the family returned to India where his father ran a coffee plantation.
Kenjige returned to the United States in 2015 and made his first appearance for the United States Cricket Association in 2018 after completing 100 hours of community service to meet ICC eligibility requirements.
Kenjige played for Mumbai Indians New York, who won the inaugural season of US-based Major League Cricket last year.
The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup will see 20 teams from around the world gather in the United States for a tournament that will run until June 29.
T20 is the shortest format of cricket, with a match lasting less than three hours instead of three to five days. Each team plays one innings, a maximum of 20 overs. (An over is six legal deliveries to a batsman.)
Thursday’s win over Pakistan followed a victory over Canada in the opening match for the United States, which beat Canada by seven wickets in Grande Prairie on Saturday and now leads Group A of the tournament with four points.
Tournament favorites India and Ireland are also in Group A. The United States will face India on Wednesday at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York.
Mark Inabinet is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter. translator.
