United States beat Pakistan in T20 World Cup Super Over thriller

AFP | Dallas  

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

The United States enjoyed arguably the greatest day in their cricket history as the non-Test nation beat Pakistan in a stunning Super Over upset at the T20 World Cup. Both teams made 159 in their standard 20 overs of this Group A match at Grand Prairie, near Dallas, Texas.

Then the United States, batting first in a Super Over bowled for Pakistan by veteran left-arm quick Mohammad Amir, made an 18 that featured several wides and runs off panic-stricken overthrows.

India-born paceman Saurabh Netravalkar held his nerve as Pakistan, runners-up at the 2022 T20 World Cup and champions in 2009, only managed 13-1 in reply. Pakistan were 5-0 off three balls before Netravalkar had Iftikhar Ahmed brilliantly caught low down in the deep by Kumar.

And with seven needed off the last ball, Shadab Khan was unable to manage the six that would have forced a second Super Over, sparking wild celebrations among the USA team and their home fans.

“It’s a huge achievement,” said United States captain Monank Patel, whose 50 was the cornerstone of his side’s 159-3 in their regulation 20 overs. “For us to beat Pakistan, we are playing them for the first time, I am just so proud of how we played. It was a proper team effort from first ball until the last.” Pakistan were earlier restricted to 159-7, left-arm quick Netravalkar taking a miserly 2-18, in their first match of the tournament.

The United States, having been cruising to victory, were on the verge of defeat when they needed 12 off their last three balls of their innings. But Aaron Jones -- the hero of their run chase in an opening group win over Canada -- hit Haris Rauf for six before Nitish Kumar struck a last-ball full toss for four as the tournament cohosts levelled the scores.

Even allowing for the United States’s recent 2-1 one-day international series win over Bangladesh -- and Pakistan’s infamous reputation for making bad starts to tournaments -- this was the landmark result in modern American cricket.