The United States cricket team achieved a historic victory on Thursday, edging out cricket heavyweight Pakistan in a dramatic Super Over tiebreaker at the T20 World Cup. This marks one of the biggest upsets in the tournament’s history.
After a match-winning performance against Canada, Aaron Jones proved instrumental once again. Jones scored an unbeaten 36 runs off 26 balls, including vital runs in the final overs that leveled the scores at 159, pushing the game into a Super Over.
“It’s a big achievement, beating Pakistan while playing them for the first time,” USA captain Monank Patel said. “We used the conditions well and kept them to a chaseable total.”
Pakistan, a long-standing cricket powerhouse and three-time finalist at the T20 World Cup, faced a surprising defeat. Captain Babar Azam acknowledged the USA’s performance, saying, “All credit to the USA. They performed well in their batting, bowling, and fielding departments, and that’s why they won.”
The match saw the USA off to a strong start, with Patel scoring 50 off 38 balls and Andries Gous adding 35 runs. The duo led the team to 104-1 in 13 overs before Pakistan rallied to contain the score.
Pakistan’s batting lineup struggled against the disciplined American bowlers. Despite efforts from Babar Azam, who scored 44 runs, and Shadab Khan with 40 runs, Pakistan was restricted to 159-7.
In the Super Over, USA’s left-arm fast bowler Saurabh Netravalkar conceded just 13 runs, securing the win after Jones and Patel amassed 18 runs against Pakistan’s Mohammad Amir.
“We couldn’t capitalize during the first six overs,” Babar said. “Back-to-back wickets hurt us.”
The victory signifies a significant moment for cricket in the United States, showcasing the team’s growing presence on the international stage. With this win, the USA has announced itself as a formidable competitor in the global cricket arena.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
