In a dramatic ICC T20 World Cup encounter, the USA pulled off a remarkable victory over Pakistan in a thrilling Super Over at Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas. This match, the eleventh of the tournament, was marked by intense competition and an unexpected upset that has shaken up Group A standings.

Pakistan won the toss and opted to bat first, setting a competitive target of 160 runs. Their innings was anchored by Babar Azam, who scored a solid 44 runs, and Shadab Khan, who contributed 40 runs. Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf also made valuable contributions with 23 and 3 runs, respectively. However, Pakistan's innings was somewhat inconsistent, with Fakhar Zaman and Iftikhar Ahmed chipping in with 11 and 18 runs. Usman Khan and Azam Khan struggled, contributing only 3 and failing to score.

On the bowling front for Pakistan, Mohammad Amir, Haris Rauf, and Shaheen Afridi each took one wicket, aiming to put pressure on the USA's chase.

The USA, in their pursuit of the target, showed resilience and determination. Openers Monank Patel and Aaron Jones laid a strong foundation with a 36-run partnership. Patel played a crucial role, scoring 50 runs, while Jones added 36 runs. Andres Gous and Nitish Kumar also contributed with 35 and 14 runs, respectively. Steven Taylor chipped in with 12 runs, helping the USA reach the same score as Pakistan: 159 runs for the loss of 3 wickets.

With the match tied, a Super Over was required to determine the winner. The USA batted first in the Super Over, with Mohammad Amir tasked with the bowling duties for Pakistan. The over turned out to be costly for Amir, as the USA managed to score 18 runs without losing any wickets. The Super Over was marked by three wide balls from Amir, which allowed the USA to add 7 extra runs to their total, putting further pressure on Pakistan.

In response, Pakistan’s chase in the Super Over was fraught with difficulty. Fakhar Zaman and Iftikhar Ahmed were the designated batsmen. Iftikhar Ahmed struggled initially, failing to score on the first ball, hitting a four on the second, but was dismissed on the third ball. Shadab Khan, who came in to replace Iftikhar, attempted to secure the victory but fell short. Despite hitting a four, Shadab Khan couldn't guide Pakistan past the target, and the team managed only 13 runs in the Super Over.

For the USA, the bowling attack was pivotal in restricting Pakistan. Nisarg Patel shone with the ball, taking 3 wickets, while Saurabh Netravalkar took 2. Ali Khan and Jasdeep Singh each contributed with a wicket, ensuring a tight contest throughout the match.

Pakistan’s bowling attack, though impactful, could not prevent the USA from achieving a thrilling victory. Mohammad Amir, in particular, had an off day, struggling both in the regular match and the Super Over.

Squads

USA: Steven Taylor, Monank Patel (captain, wicketkeeper), Andres Gous, Aaron Jones, Nitish Kumar, Corey Anderson, Harmeet Singh, Jasdeep Singh, Nisarg Patel, Saurabh Netravalkar, Ali Khan

Pakistan: Babar Azam (captain), Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Usman Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Azam Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Amir, Haris Rauf