During the build-up to the 2024 T20 World Cup, the United States of America continued their impressive form by defeating Bangladesh. They then went on to stun Pakistan at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas, Texas on Thursday, June 6th.
Opting to bowl first, the USA’s fine bowling, led by Nosthush Kenjige and Saurabh Netravalkar, restricted Pakistan to 159/7. Contributions from Monank Patel, Aaron Jones, Andries Gous, and Nitish Kumar, who played a crucial role including hitting a four off the final ball to take the game into a Super Over, propelled USA to a historic victory.
Pakistan’s lack of discipline and form led to them conceding the match as the USA defended 18 runs in the Super Over, subsequently moving to the top of the Group A table.
What happened in the Super Over?
During the Super Over, Aaron Jones and Harmeet Singh batted for the USA team. Aaron hit a four off the first ball and despite Mohammad Amir’s attempts to bowl yorkers, he bowled several wides, allowing the batters to sneak in extra runs. Saurabh Netravalkar bowled a dot ball to Iftikhar Ahmed at the start of Pakistan’s Super Over. However, Iftikhar managed to hit a boundary, and a wide was also bowled. With Pakistan needing 14 runs from 3 balls, Shadab needed to clear the ropes for another Super Over. But Saurabh Netravalkar only conceded a single, leading USA to a famous win.
Earlier…
PAKISTAN
Powerplay: USA makes early inroads
Phase score: 30/3 (RR: 5.00, 4s/6s: 0/2)
The USA started with the left-arm spin of Kenjige, who was swept for a six by Mohammad Rizwan in the opening over. However, Rizwan’s innings were short-lived as Netravalkar found the outside edge and Steven Taylor took a stunning one-handed catch diving to his right at slip. Kenjige also found success as Usman Khan’s attempt to go over the off-side resulted in a catch to long-off. Fakhar Zaman started with a six off Kenjige but Babar Azam was struggling at the other end, unable to rotate strike and find boundaries. To add to Pakistan’s problems, Fakhar handed a catch to a short fine leg while attempting a lap shot in Ali Khan’s opening over. Another economical over from Netravalkar, who had figures of 1-8 from his three overs, helped the USA keep the opposition in check in the powerplay, with the Pakistan captain managing only 4 of 14.
Middle overs (7-15): Shadab counterattacks but USA hit back
Phase score – 83/2 [RR: 9.22, 4s/6s: 5/4]
The USA team kept the pressure on Pakistan after the powerplay, limiting them to only 46 runs in the first nine overs. However, Pakistan gained momentum in the 10th over when Shadab hit two consecutive sixes and Babar hit his first four of the innings off Jasdeep Singh’s bowling, scoring 20 runs in the over. This momentum continued as Babar hit a four off Kenjige and a six off Harmeet Singh, while Shadab also struck a four and a six in the same over off Harmeet Singh.
The partnership between the fourth wicket pair quickly added 72 runs but was broken when Shadab was caught at short fine leg off Kenjige’s delivery. The left-arm spinner then trapped Azam Khan in front of the wicket, finishing with figures of 3 for 30 despite conceding 17 runs off his first two overs. Babar hit a four off Harmeet Singh’s bowling, but Pakistan still had a lot of work to do in the remaining overs to set a competitive total.
Death overs (16-20): Afridi’s cameo helps Pakistan past 150
Phase score – 46/2 [RR: 9.20, 4s/6s: 3/3]
In the death overs, Babar hit a six off Jasdeep, followed by a four for Iftikhar, which got Pakistan off to a good start. However, the captain was then dismissed leg-before in the same over. Corey Anderson and Ali Khan bowled well, conceding only 6 and 7 runs, respectively, in the 17th and 18th overs. Netravalkar took the wicket of Iftikhar in the 19th over, but then Shaheen Afridi hit a six off him and also struck a maximum off Ali Khan in the final over, scoring 23 runs. This helped Pakistan set the USA a target of 160.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Powerplay: USA off to a positive start
Phase score – 44/1 [RR: 7.33, 4s/6s: 7/0]
In contrast to Pakistan’s slow start, the USA team began quickly as Monank Patel scored regular boundaries. Mohammad Amir was inconsistent with his lines in the first over, while Monank hit three fours off Afridi’s first two overs. Pakistan also ended up losing a review after challenging a decision for a ball that pitched outside leg. There was swing on offer for the Pakistan bowlers, but the USA’s positive batting, especially from their captain, offset that. Naseem Shah started with a four-run over and took a wicket in his second, getting Taylor to edge a delivery to the wicketkeeper. Naseem also found the outside edge of Gous’s bat, but the ball fell short of Iftikhar at slip and went to the boundary. The powerplay ended on a positive note for the USA team, with Gous hitting a pick-up shot over midwicket for a four off Naseem, contributing to the team’s seven fours in the first six overs.
Middle overs (7-15): Pakistan strike after Monank-Gous stand
Phase score – 71/2 [RR: 7.88, 4s/6s: 7/2]
Gous played a couple of deliveries from Haris Rauf past point for fours, showcasing good timing and finding the gaps effectively. Aside from the boundaries, Monank and Gous rotated the strike well with singles and twos to keep the USA on track in the chase. Shadab Khan only gave away five runs in his first over but was hit for a straight six by Gous in his second as USA made good progress, reaching 76/1 at the halfway stage of the innings. The half-century partnership was reached in the 12th over, off 38 deliveries, with Gous contributing 35. Monank, who had slowed down a bit, started accelerating again as he hit a couple of fours off Iftikhar in the 12th over.
Monank continued his dominance against Afridi when he returned to the attack, hitting a four over mid-off followed by a powerful straight six, bringing up a 34-ball fifty and helping USA pass 100 in the 13th over. The 68-run partnership ended in the 14th over when Rauf had Gous bowled for 35 off 26. A lucky boundary for Aaron Jones off an inside edge helped him get off the mark in the same over, but USA suffered another setback in the next over as Monank, trying to force an Amir delivery through the off side, edged it to the wicketkeeper.
Death overs (16-20): Jones and Nitish overcome Pakistan pacers to force Super Over
Phase score – 44/0 [RR: 7.33, 4s/6s: 2/2]
In a thrilling match, the United States of America (USA) tied with Pakistan, scoring 159/3 in 20 overs in response to Pakistan’s 159/7 in the T20 match. The game went into a super over, in which the USA won by scoring 18/1 while Pakistan managed 13/1. Some key moments from the match include Jones hitting a much-needed six off Shadab when the USA needed 45 runs off 30 balls. However, a tight over by Naseem, conceding only six runs, put pressure on USA, who then needed 28 runs off 18 balls. With 21 runs needed off the last two overs, Pakistan lost a review for a leg-before appeal, but accurate bowling by Amir restricted USA’s boundary options. In the final over, Jones and Nitish Kumar managed to score the required runs, taking the game into the super over.
What next for the teams?
The USA team has a five-day break before their next match against India on June 12 at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York. Pakistan will also face India on June 9 at the same venue.
PC: Aljazeera
