USA Stuns Pakistan in Dramatic Super Over at ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024
In a historic moment at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, USA stunned Pakistan with a thrilling Super Over victory. This nail-biting contest, held at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas, has already been marked as one of the most significant upsets in the history of T20 cricket.
USA vs. Pakistan: Match Centre and Scorecard
In a dramatic finale, a boundary off the final ball of USA’s run-chase forced the match into a Super Over. It was in this high-pressure scenario that the co-hosts, USA, emerged victorious, pulling off one of the greatest shocks in cricket history.
Pakistan, a team that has reached the semi-final stage in six of the eight ICC Men’s T20 World Cups, including being runners-up in 2022, faced a USA side that executed their game plan flawlessly to achieve this monumental result.
Stunning Scenes in Dallas
During the Super Over, Pakistan turned to Mohammad Amir. However, a series of wides and overthrows helped USA accumulate 18 runs, with just one boundary coming off the bat of Aaron Jones. USA’s Saurabh Netravalkar then held his nerve with the ball, completing the most remarkable of victories on home soil.
The Run Chase
Chasing 160 in regulation time, USA nearly clinched the win within their allotted overs, as their top order handled Pakistan’s high-caliber attack adeptly. Opener Steven Taylor was dismissed for 12 in the final over of the Powerplay, but Monank Patel and Andries Gous took charge, pushing USA past the 100-run mark and seemingly into control of the chase.
Monank Patel was particularly impressive, scoring a classy half-century and sharing a crucial 68-run stand with Gous. However, Pakistan’s formidable pace attack, led by Haris Rauf and Mohammad Amir, struck back to set up a nerve-wracking finish. Despite losing Gous for 35 and Patel for 50, USA managed to tie the game, thanks to Aaron Jones and Nitish Kumar’s last-ball boundary.
Pakistan's Innings
Earlier in the day, Pakistan’s innings recovered from a shaky start thanks to a partnership between Babar Azam (44) and Shadab Khan (40). Despite losing early wickets, the pair’s resilience helped Pakistan post a competitive total of 159/7. Nosthush Kenjige and Saurabh Netravalkar were the standout bowlers for USA, applying pressure throughout the innings.
Historic Victory
This victory for USA, following their win over Canada, has blown Group A wide open. Pakistan’s preparation was disrupted by rain both in their series in England and upon arriving in Texas, but this result stands as one of their most disappointing in major ICC events.
Looking Ahead
Pakistan now faces India in a crucial match in New York on Sunday, a game that promises to be another highlight of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024. As the tournament progresses, every game becomes pivotal in the quest for glory.
