USA VS PAK T20I

Right then, that's all from us down here in Dallas, where the USA edged out Pakistan in a humdinger to make it two wins out of two. As a result of this defeat, Pakistan's next game against arch-rivals, India becomes extremtely crucial. Meanwhile, over in Barbados at the Kensington Oval, Namibia and Scotland are currently battling it out in a Group B clash. You can simply switch tabs and enjoy our coverage of that game. See you there. Cheers!

The captain of the USA, Monank Patel says that winning the toss and the way they bowled in the first six overs was brilliant. Adds that they knew Shadab Khan and Babar Azam will give them chances. Feels that the way he and Gous batted was really good. Shares that you don’t get a chance every year to play in the World Cup and you have to be at your best while competing against top nations.

Babar Azam says that they didn't capitalise in the first six overs. Adds that they didn't get the momentum as they lost back-to-back wickets. Says you have to step up as a batter and build partnerships. Says that they were not up to the mark with the ball in the first six overs. Adds that the spinners also did not picked up wickets in the middle phase. Ends up by saying that they will come back strongly in the next game. Also credits the USA for playing well in all the departments.

Time to hear from the captains...

Monank Patel, the skipper of USA is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH is up for a flash interview. He says it is a big achievement to beat Pakistan in the super over while facing them for the first time. Adds it was a complete team effort from the boys. Says they utilised the conditions pretty well and appreciates the bowlers to keep Pakistan under 160. Says that the plan was to get a good partnership and him and Gous put a good stand together. Says that Andries Gous took off the pressure from him and they built a solid partnership. Tells that as a batter and as a player you want to show up in the big games and ends up by saying that he is happy that his knock came in a winning cause

Earlier in the game, after being sent into bat, Pakistan found themselves struggling at 26-3 within the first five overs. The USA bowlers maintained a tight grip on the game, making it difficult for Babar Azam and Shadab Khan to rotate the strike. Shadab Khan breathed some life into the Pakistan innings, while Babar chipped in with a couple of boundaries. Just as the partnership was starting to look promising, Pakistan lost Shadab Khan and Azam Khan off successive deliveries. This double blow was followed by the departures of Babar Azam and Iftikhar Ahmed, leaving Shaheen Afridi with the task of providing a finishing kick. Shaheen stepped up with a crucial 16-ball 23, helping Pakistan reach 159. For the USA, Nosthush Kenjige was the standout bowler, claiming 3 wickets for 30 runs in his 4 overs. Saurabh Netravalkar was the most economical bowler, contributing with 2 wickets.

Having finished with 159 on the board, which looked below-par at the halfway mark, Pakistan were in search of early wickets. Both Shaheen Afridi and Mohammad Amir struggled to get the radar right and failed to put the USA on the back foot early. Naseem Shah helped them draw the first blood but Pakistan could not really build on that scalp. Moreover, they could not squeeze in quiet overs which could have helped to push the required rate. Brought back into the attack, Rauf and Amir combined well to give Pakistan an opening with the wickets off the two set batters. The pacers exhibited impressive death bowling skills to take the game deep. Pakistan seemed to have the game in their grasp with the USA requiring 12 runs off the last 3 balls but let it slip courtesy of an ordinary couple of balls from Rauf. Handed the task of bowling the Super Over, Mohammad Amir missed his mark several times in the Super Over and they were equally poor in the field. With 19 runs to get, Iftikhar Ahmed got an early boundary away but his departure came as a big blow and Fakhar Zaman being stranded at the non-striker's end did not help their cause. It proved to be too much for Shadab Khan as Pakistan fell short by 5 runs.

The USA will feel that the game should not have gotten to the Super Over and it did not look like a possibility when Monank Patel and Andries Gous were stitching a steady stand, taking the USA ahead in the chase. In their pursuit of 160 runs, the USA got off to a sedate start as Monank Patel and Steven Taylor employed a cautious approach. Coming in at the departure of Taylor, Andries Gous got off the blocks quickly and it allowed Monank to settle into his innings. The duo went about their business sensibly and looked assured out in the middle. Through their 68-run stand, the USA had their noses in front at the halfway mark. The USA seemed to stumble a bit, losing Monank and Gous in quick succession but Aaron Jones and Nitish Kumar did not let the game slip away from their grasp. It all came down to 15 runs needed off the final over which turned to 12 runs off the last 3 balls but Jones' six off the 4th ball and a boundary from Kumar on the last ball took the game to a Super Over. Aaron Jones set the tone for the USA in the Super Over and they were also helped by Pakistan's sloppiness with the ball and in the field, allowing them to post 18 on the board. Saurabh Netravalkar came out with flying colours in the Super Over, where he stuck to his plans despite being taken to the ropes a couple of times, to close out the game for the USA.

THE USA HAVE DONE IT! Saurabh Netravalkar gets the job done as the USA pull off a famous upset in Dallas. We have our first upset of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, 2024 and it is the tournament debutants, USA that have upstaged the runners-up of the previous edition, Pakistan. Hugs all around on the park and even in the stands as Monank Patel and his men celebrate a historic win. Pakistan are left shell shocked as their poor run in T20Is continues and having faltered at the final hurdle last time, their mission of going all the way this time has started on the wrong foot.

THIS IS FOR THE HISTORY BOOKS! USA BEAT PAKISTAN IN THE SUPER OVER AND EXECUTE THE ABSOLUTE UNTHINKABLE! Fuller in length and outside off, Shadab Khan half-squats at it and hits it hard through covers for just a solitary run.

Low full toss outside off, Shadab Khan hits it down the ground between long off and long on and hurries for a couple of runs only. 7 required off the last ball now. Are we heading over for a second super over?

FOUR LEG BYES! Lucky escape there for Shadab and Pakistan. Cannons the yorker on off, Shadab Khan premeditates and shuffles across off, sits down to sweep it away but the ball thuds the pad and races away through the keeper and the slip cordon to the fence.

WIDE! Poor execution this! Way too full and way outside off, beyond the guideline. The Umpire signals for a Wide.

OUT! IN THE AIR AND TAKEN! DRAMA! ABSOLUTE DRAMA! A low full toss on off, Iftikhar Ahmad picks it off the bottom half of the bat, and takes the aerial route, but doesn't get the requisite distance and height, and the ball spoons in the air and travels in front of long off where Milind Kumar stationed at the very position, moves forward, gets low and takes a screamer of a catch, just a few inches above the ground and tumbles but very well manages to keep the ball in his hands. The TV Umpire checks whether it is a fair catch. After several angles, it is confirmed that Milind has got his fingers underneath the ball and it is deemed as a clean catch. Pakistan need 14 from 3 balls now. Can Shadab Khan do the heavy lifting here and sail Pakistan through the line?

Has it been taken? The USA are celebrating and Milind Kumar looks pretty confident. The umpires have asked Iftikhar Ahmed to wait as the third umpire checks the catch. A huge moment in the game this. USA will surge ahead with the departure of Iftikhar. The third umpire deems that the fingers are underneath it and OUT comes up on the big screen.

WIDE! Saurabh bowls it way outside the guideline outside off. Wide given this time. An extra delivery for Pakistan.

FOUR! SMASHED! Off-cutter on a length, on top of off, Iftikhar Ahmed stands tall, transfers his weight on the back foot and pulls it through mid-wicket for a boundary.

Slants it way across off on a fuller length, Iftikhar Ahmed shuffles outside off and misses to connect the shot. He is absolutely animated as he believes it should've been given as a Wide.

We are back for the USA's reply! The USA players are having a chat with the two umpires. They think that Pakistan are well past the stipulated time and their openers haven't come out yet. Here they come, it will be Iftikhar Ahmed and Fakhar Zaman to open the innings for Pakistan. Saurabh Netravalkar will bowl the Super Over for the USA. Remember, if Pakistan lose 2 wickets, that's the game done right there. Away we go then.