USA produced one of the biggest shocks in T20 World Cup history to stun Pakistan after a competitive and entertaining group game in Texas went to a tense super over.
The co-hosts, who beat Canada to kick-start the tournament, restricted Pakistan to 159-7 as Nosthush Kenjige took 3-30 and Saurabh Netravalkar bowled four tight overs, picking up two wickets.
Pakistan were 26-3 towards the end of the powerplay but got up to a defendable score thanks to Shadab Khan’s fluent 25-ball 40 and captain Babar Azam’s more conservative 44 from 43.
USA were cruising to victory as Monank Patel (50) and Andries Gous (35) took their side to 104-2 after 12 overs.
But both fell in quick succession as Pakistan fought back and in the end USA needed a late flourish from Aaron Jones and Nitish Kumar to force a super over, the hosts hitting Mohammad Amir for a six and a four in the final three balls to tie.
Despite bowling an expensive last over, Amir was given responsibility to bowl the super over but conceded 18, including seven wides as USA scampered byes to set a huge target despite scoring just 11 off the bat.
From that point Pakistan were always up against it and they fell to a five-run defeat as Netravalkar held his nerve to give USA a famous victory.
A clearly frustrated Babar said: ‘We didn’t capitalise with the bat and they took a lot of momentum. We lost back-to-back wickets in the middle overs. As a batting unit you need to step up, you need to create partnerships and we didn’t do that.
‘We weren’t up to it in the first six overs with the ball as usual, not taking wickets again. And then our spinners are not taking wickets in the middle either. But it’s early in the tournament, we will come back from this.
‘Yes, our task ahead is hard. But credit to USA, they performed so well today. They were better than us in all aspects of the game.
‘The pitch was a bit difficult to start, a bit two-paced but it’s not an excuse. We are professional cricketers. I also did not capitalise in the first six overs.’
USA captain Patel, meanwhile, said: ‘It’s a huge achievement. 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. Winning the toss, we knew we had to make sure we utilised conditions and credit to our bowlers for doing that.
‘We knew that 160 was chaseable on this pitch. I am pleased with my innings, happy to contribute but mostly happy to win as a team. We knew a partnership in the top three would set us up well, we wanted to take it as deep as we could.
‘Andries Gous took all the pressure off me with how he played. As a player you want to show up for the big occasions and I am delighted to contribute to a winning cause.’
With two wins from two, USA – who are co-hosting the 2024 T20 World Cup with West Indies – are in a superb position to qualify for the Super 8s.
They will look to produce another massive shock when they face India on Wednesday, while Pakistan also meet their arch-rivals next, with New York’s Nassau Cricket Stadium hosting that crunch game on Sunday.
Reigning champions England saw their opening match of the tournament abandoned but their opponents Scotland had put themselves in a strong position before the rain came.
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