In what will be the first time the two teams have faced each other in international cricket history, the United States took on Pakistan in a Group A match at the Super Over Dallas on Thursday.
Winning the toss and choosing to bat first, the US bowlers managed to restrict Pakistan to 159/7 with a quota of 20 overs. With five runs needed off the final ball, Nitish Kumar smashed a four over mid-off to level the scores.
Earlier, Indian-born American batsman Monankh Patel had led the attack with his first fifty in a T20I, while Andries Guth also scored a respectable 35. The pair were well on their way to a total before Pakistan scored two in quick succession. Despite losing wickets and a slowdown in the scoring rate towards the end, with 12 runs needed off the final three balls, the USA managed to stay in the match.
The 2009 champions and last time’s runners-up lost the toss and opted to bat first, and got off to a poor start.
Pakistan lost Mohammed Rizwan, Usman Khan and Fakhar Zaman in the powerplay and were down 26 for 3 at one point.
After a shaky start, there was at least a temporary recovery when Shadab Khan (40 off 25) added 72 for the fourth wicket along with captain Babar Azam (44 off 43), but the US bowlers hit back quickly, dismissing both set batsmen to put Pakistan at a disadvantage.
Shaheen Shah Afridi’s 25-run performance helped Pakistan cross the 150-run mark.
On the bowling front, Nostush Kendzige was the best of the US bowlers with three wickets, while Saurabh Netravalkar also picked up two wickets, while Pakistan bowlers Ali Khan and Jasdeep Singh also picked up one wicket each.
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First uploaded: July 6, 2024 12:53 AM
