United States Shocks Cricket Heavyweight Pakistan At T20 World Cup In One Of The Biggest Upsets Ever

Grand Prairie, Texas – Aaron Jones smashed another home run, and the United States defeated cricket heavyweight Pakistan in a Super Over tiebreaker, one of the biggest upsets in Twenty20 World Cup history.

Jones was pivotal in Thursday’s dramatic victory over 2022 runner-up Pakistan, following a match-winning batting performance against Canada in the tournament opener.

Cricket has a lengthy but relatively unknown history in the United States. It is Pakistan’s national sport, a long-standing part of the cricket establishment, and a three-time T20 World Cup finalist.

Pakistan | AP News Image

United States Shocks Cricket Heavyweight Pakistan At T20 World Cup In One Of The Biggest Upsets Ever

The star players are well-known names. Jones and the US team have flown under the radar.

“Playing against Pakistan for the first time in the World Cup and beating them, it was an unbelievable performance,” said US captain Monank Patel. “…beating Pakistan, you know, it’s a big achievement.”

According to Patel, the US team’s campaign was proceeding as planned.

“We aren’t concerned about what others are saying. We know what we’re worth and what capabilities we have, so we simply focus on the game,” he said. “We do not want to keep our emotions excessively high or low.

“We’ll make sure that we whatever … the win today, we will enjoy it and make sure that we next day, we come fresh.”

Pakistan, led by captain Babar Azam, got off to a horrible start and will face strong rival India in New York on Sunday. Only the top two teams from the five-nation groups qualify for the playoffs.

“All credit to the USA,” Babar remarked, adding that the Americans played well in batting, bowling, and fielding, “and that’s why they won.”

“We couldn’t capitalize in the opening six overs. We gained momentum, but back-to-back wickets cost us.”

Overshadowed by the upset in Texas, Scotland went to the top of Group B after defeating Namibia by five wickets in Bridgetown, Barbados. Namibia made 155-9, but Scotland won with nine balls remaining.

The game in Grand Prairie went the full distance and beyond.

Jones, who hit a 40-ball unbroken 94 against Canada, once again shone for the tournament co-host, stretching the game into a Super Over with another crucial knock of 36 not out of 26.

Jones smashed a six off Haris Rauf, followed by a single before Nitish Kumar’s boundary off the final ball in regulation tied the score at 159.

Rauf, Pakistan’s seasoned fast bowler, conceded 14 runs in the final six balls.

Pakistan panicked in the Super Over as 32-year-old fast bowler Mohammad Amir, a member of the 2009 champion team, conceded 18 runs, seven of which came from wide deliveries, as Jones launched an attack.

Pakistan | AP News Image

United States Shocks Cricket Heavyweight Pakistan At T20 World Cup In One Of The Biggest Upsets Ever

Saurabh Netravalkar, an India-born left-arm fast bowler who took 2-18 from four overs in regulation, gave only 13 runs in the Super Over to secure the historic victory for the United States.

The Americans were on track to stun Pakistan in regulation when skipper Patel smashed 50 off 38 balls, and Andries Gous added 35 to help the hosts reach 159-3.

Pakistan’s batting, which has struggled for a year in the sport’s shortest format, was further exposed against some disciplined seam bowling from the United States, as they were limited to 159-7.

Steven Taylor gave the home team the perfect start by taking a superb one-handed catch inches off the turf to eliminate Mohammad Rizwan in the second over off Netravalkar’s bowling.

Pakistan was also disturbed by Nosthush Kenjige’s left-arm spin (3-30), which reduced the score to 26-3 in the fifth over.

Babar (44) and Shadab Khan (40) attempted to regain momentum, combining for a 72-run stand, but Kenjige broke through in the 13th over.

Babar, who became the world’s highest T20 run-getter by surpassing Virat Kohli’s score of 4,038 runs, was scratchy in his 43-ball effort before falling leg before wicket to Jasdeep Singh’s delivery in the 16th over, as Pakistan dropped to 125-6.

Only Shaheen Shah Afridi’s 23 from 16 balls, including two late sixes, helped Pakistan reach their target.

SCOTLAND WINS.
Captain Richie Berrington scored an unbeaten 47 off 35 balls and formed a 74-run fifth-wicket partnership with Michael Leask (35 from 17) to help Scotland win its first T20 international against Namibia in four years.

Scotland gained a point from its first match against England, which was rained out, and now leads Group B with three points, ahead of Australia and Namibia with two. Namibia defeated Oman in its first match via Super Over.

United States Shocks Cricket Heavyweight Pakistan At T20 World Cup In One Of The Biggest Upsets Ever

Australia faces England on Saturday.

Namibia’s captain Gerhard Erasmus struck 52 from 30 balls and added 51 for the fifth wicket with Zane Green (28) as the team scored 155-9 after deciding to bat.

Erasmus then grabbed 2-14, bowling the eighth and tenth overs, leaving Scotland 69-3 at the halfway stage of their innings. However, Berrington and Leask led Scotland to victory, combining for 73-4 after 11 overs.

“I don’t think we’re going to get over that for a while,” Leask stated. “It’s a helluva feeling.”

SOURCE – (AP)