Saurabh Netravalkar’s steady performance in the Super Over proved pivotal as the USA secured a remarkable victory over Pakistan by five runs in the T20 World Cup. This stunning upset unfolded in Texas, where the co-hosts displayed resilience to level the score at 159 runs each in the main match at Grand Prairie Stadium.
With the game pushed to a Super Over, the USA capitalized on the opportunity, setting a target of 18 runs. Despite losing Aaron Jones for 11, they managed to accumulate seven additional runs through extras, leaving Pakistan with a challenging task. However, Netravalkar’s disciplined bowling restricted Pakistan to just 13 runs, sealing the victory for the USA.
Having previously defeated Canada, the USA now leads Group A and stands a strong chance of advancing to the Super 8s stage, with the top two teams from each group progressing.
Monank Patel, the USA captain, hailed the win as a significant accomplishment, emphasizing the team’s collective effort and strategic execution. Conversely, Pakistan’s captain, Babar Azam, lamented his team’s batting performance, acknowledging the USA’s superior performance across all facets of the game.
In the regulation innings, Pakistan recovered from a slow start to post 159 for seven, with contributions from Babar Azam, Shadab Khan, and Shaheen Afridi. However, the USA’s strong start faltered momentarily before Jones’ crucial six and Kumar’s boundary on the final ball forced the match into a Super Over, setting the stage for their historic triumph.
