In a sensational turn of events at the ICC T20 World Cup in Dallas, hosts USA delivered a shocking defeat to title favorites Pakistan. The match, expected to be an easy win for Pakistan, ended in a super over, where the USA emerged victorious. The game kept fans on the edge of their seats, with the final super over cementing USA's historic win.
In the super over, bowled by Mohammad Amir, USA scored 18 runs while losing one wicket. In response, Pakistan could only manage 13 runs, also losing one wicket. This marked USA's first-ever T20 victory over Pakistan. Earlier, Pakistan, batting first after losing the toss, scored 159 for 7 in their 20 overs. Captain Babar Azam top-scored with 44 runs, while Shadab Khan contributed 40 runs. Shaheen Afridi's late surge of 23 not out off 16 balls helped Pakistan reach a respectable total. However, key players like Rizwan, Fakhar Zaman, and Azam Khan failed to make an impact.
USA bowlers collectively restricted Pakistan, with Noshtush Kenjige taking 3 wickets, and Saurabh Netravalkar and Ali Khan taking 2 and 1 wickets respectively. Chasing a target of 160, USA scored 159 for 3 in their 20 overs, leading to a tie. Opener Monank Patel scored a crucial 50, supported by Aaron Jones (36 not out) and Andries Gous (35).
In the super over, USA’s Monank Patel, who was named Player of the Match, played a pivotal role. The victory was significant not just for the USA, but also for Indian-origin players in the team, like captain Monank Patel and bowler Saurabh Netravalkar, who were instrumental in the win.
