T20 World Cup 2024: The minnows United States of Monank Patel stunned the Pakistan or Babar Azam at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas where the former clinched a nail-biting victory in the Super Over of their Group A match.
One of the largest upsets in cricket history was when the United States of America (USA) dominated Pakistan in the T20 World Cup 2024 fixture played on Thursday at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas. It was full of drama that went to the last Super Over and the fortunate co-hosts got the last laugh! Pakistan, possessing all the experience it has gathered from test cricket, cricket world cups, and other one-day international series, could not use the opportunities that came their way through the USA. Thus, the USA climbed to the top of the points table in Group A, leapfrogging India.
Chasing a daunting target after being asked to bat first, which looked like a bad dream for green caps, they scored only 30 runs in the powerplay and lost three important wickets of Mohammad Rizwan, Fakhar Zaman, and Usman Khan. While Pant used hard-earned runs to dominate the track, the other end had Pakistan’s skipper, Babar Azam, experiencing initial pressure. Shadab Khan and Babar joined hands to repair the innings, took Pakistan out of a difficult position, and added 72 runs for the fourth wicket in 8 overs.
A skipper’s knock 🙌
Monank Patel brings up a crucial fifty and marks his @MyIndusIndBank Milestone moment ⚡#T20WorldCup | #USAvPAK pic.twitter.com/k2olA3v4tY
— ICC (@ICC) June 6, 2024
Shadab was more aggressive in this combination, playing a rapid knock of 40 off 25, comprising 1 four and 3 sixes. Babar also upped the ante for a score of 44 off 23 balls. When it emerged that the duo would add more fuel to the enthralling match, Nosthush Kenjige gave his best for the USA. The left-arm spinner got rid of Shadab, then the out-of-form Azam Khan was clean-bowled without scoring a run.
Kenjige looked the most dangerous for the USA bowlers when he bowled and got out for a superb 4-0-30-3. The gutsy knock of Shaheen Shah Afridi defined Pakistan as they reached 159 for 7 in the end. Another player who troubled Babar’s side was Saurabh Netravalkar, a former India U19 cricketer: 4, wickets-0, economy-18, and runs-2. The spinners, namely, Ali Khan and Jasdeep Singh, could pick up a wicket each.
On one occasion Mohammad Amir shocked the USA with a big blow immediately after getting rid of Monank who played a brilliant knock of 50 off 38 balls. Needed for victory, the run-rate was hovering around 10 and for the second match success story Aaron Jones, the match-winning feel was once again on the USA to take them home.
The final stages of the match saw the LAH against 12 and Jones played a shot over the mid-wicket region by Rauf for the sixer to take the match to the Super Over. Jones stood firm not out on 36 off 26 and again, he came up with a story about his attitude.
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USA Stuns Pakistan
Amir, in the Super Over of the match, committed a quite costly over by conceding 12 runs in it. To begin with, he offered a boundary to Jones and a simple clearance of the third man region duly followed it. Then Jones was on hand to take a couple of deliveries and an over, in a bid to dismiss Amir who aimed to try to hit the block hole. Amir decided to bowl a wide which brought in applause from the Aussies cricketers as Jones backed up swiftly and took it as an opportunity to get a bye. And so, it was announced that the USA maintaining a lead of 19 runs set Pakistan a target.
Having had a dot ball in the very first ball of the over, Netravalkar conceded a four in the second ball. He appeared a bit tense after he came down with a wide but compensated for it when he got rid of the Iftikhar Ahmed. With 7 needed of the last ball, Shadab only managed to make one which cost his team the match.
It is needless to say Pakistan have to call it a night and regroup for their next game against Rohit Sharma-led India on June 9.
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