In their Group A ICC T20 World Cup 2024 match at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas, Texas, the USA defeated Pakistan for the first time.
A super over was required to determine the winner of the game because both teams were tied at the end of regulation play with 159 runs each, and the hosts came out on top in the tie-breaker, scoring 18 runs in six deliveries before limiting Pakistan to 12 runs.
The hosts restricted Pakistan to 159 runs for the loss of seven wickets after a brilliant opening spell in which they scalped three wickets before the end of the first six overs.
Nosthush Kenjige starred for the hosts with a three-wicket haul, and he was well supported by Saurabh Netravalkar, who picked up a couple of wickets to further trouble the Green Stars.
Netravalkar struck early, dismissing Mohammad Rizwan before Kenjige took out Usman Khan. Ali Khan got rid of Fakhar Zaman, which meant danger for the tourists.
Skipper Babar Azam held his crease and formed a crucial partnership with Shadab Khan to prevent a run of wickets, as their 72-run stand saved Pakistan’s face after they were reeling at 26/4.
The skipper added 44 runs at a slow pace, while Khan contributed 40 runs to help Pakistan reach the triple-digit mark after a nightmare start.
Khan fell to Kenjige for the spinner’s second wicket of the day, and the American bowler completed his three-wicket haul with the next delivery, trapping Azam Khan for a golden duck.
Babar Azam was bowled out for 18 by Jasdeep Singh, who was soon joined in the dugout by Ifthikar Ahmed. Shaheen Afridi’s big-hitting ensured that Pakistan would have a decent total to defend, with a 23-run flurry off just 16 balls propelling his team to 159.
USA started their chase well, with openers Monank Patel and Steven Taylor scoring 36 runs in powerplay overs before falling to Naseem Shah. Andries Gous replaced his teammate at the crease and accompanied his captain in a 68-run partnership for the second wicket.
Gous was castled by Haris Rauf for 35 runs before Monank went on to bring up his fifty in stunning fashion as he smashed Afridi for a couple of boundaries, a four and a six, in consecutive deliveries to take his team into triple figures.
However, he lost his wicket when Rizwan caught him behind off Amir before Aaron Jones could take over. The star of USA’s first game picked up boundaries in regular intervals to keep his side in the hunt accompanied by Nitish Kumar.
However, a brilliant performance from Amir in the penultimate over reduced the equation to 16 from the final over. However, a six from Jones reduced the requisite, and a four off the final ball by Nitish ensured that the teams would go the distance in Dallas, with the USA matching Pakistan’s score and requiring a Super Over to determine the winner!
Pakistan displayed a familiar pattern of sloppy fielding, allowing the USA to score 18 runs in the super over despite only one boundary being scored.
The hosts completed a memorable win by restricting Pakistan to 12 runs for the loss of Iftikhar Ahmed’s wicket, registering a 5-run win that will live long in the memory of fans worldwide.