US shocks Pakistan in Super Over
THE UNITED States scored a major upset at the T20 World Cup by beating cricket heavyweight Pakistan in a Super Over at the Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium in Dallas, Texas, yesterday.
The US had romped to a seven-wicket win over Canada in their opening game, but beating 2022 runners-up Pakistan counts as historic in a country that hardly understands the rules of the game.
Aaron Jones, who smashed a 40-ball unbeaten 94 against Canada, once again starred for the tournament co-hosts when he stretched the game into a Super Over with another vital knock of 36 not out off 26.
Jones hit a six off Haris Rauf and then a single before Nitish Kumar’s boundary off the final ball tied the score at 159 at the end of 20 overs as Pakistan’s experienced fast bowler gave away 14 runs off the final six balls.
Pakistan panicked in the Super Over when much-experienced fast bowler Mohammad Amir, preferred over Shaheen Shah Afridi, gave away 18 runs that included seven runs off wide balls as Jones smashed a boundary against the left-arm seamer.
Left-arm fast bowler Saurabh Netravalkar, who earlier bowled brilliantly and grabbed 2-18 off his four overs, conceded only 13 runs in the Super Over to earn the US its most historic Twenty20 win against Pakistan, the 2009 champions.
Iftikhar Ahmed smashed a boundary off Netravalkar’s second ball, before holing out at long off as the left-arm seamer kept his cool and snatched a famous win for the US.
“It’s a big achievement, beating Pakistan while playing for the first time (against them),” US captain Monank Patel said.
“We used the conditions well (and) kept them to 160, which was chaseable.”
It was a disastrous start for captain Babar Azam’s Pakistan, which is due to meet archrivals India on Sunday in New York.
“All credit to the USA who did well in all the three departments and that’s why they won,” Babar said. “We couldn’t capitalise during the first six overs. We took the momentum, but back-to-back wickets hurt us.”
The Americans looked well on course to stun Pakistan during their innings when Patel hit 50 off 38 balls and together with Andries Gous (35) breezed the home team to 104-1 in 13 overs before Pakistan staged a comeback and dismissed both the set batters in successive overs.