The USA enjoyed the greatest day in their cricket history as the non-Test nation beat Pakistan in a stunning Super Over upset at the T20 World Cup on Thursday.
Both teams made 159 in their standard 20 overs of this Group A match at Grand Prairie, near Dallas, Texas.
Then the USA, batting first in a Super Over bowled for Pakistan by veteran left-arm quick Mohammad Amir, made an 18 that featured several wides and runs off panic-stricken overthrows.
India-born paceman Saurabh Netravalkar held his nerve as Pakistan, runners-up at the 2022 T20 World Cup and champions in 2009, only managed 13-1 in reply.
Pakistan were 5-0 off three balls before Netravalkar had Iftikhar Ahmed brilliantly caught low down in the deep by Kumar.
And with seven needed off the last ball, Shadab Khan was unable to manage the six that would have forced a second Super Over, sparking wild celebrations among the USA team and their home fans.
“It’s a huge achievement,” said USA captain Monank Patel, whose 50 was the cornerstone of his side’s 159-3 in their regulation 20 overs. “For us to beat Pakistan, we are playing them for the first time, I am just so proud of how we played. It was a proper team effort from first ball until the last.”
Pakistan were earlier restricted to 159-7, left-arm quick Netravalkar taking a miserly 2-18, in their first match of the tournament.
The USA, having been cruising to victory, were on the verge of defeat when they needed 12 off their last three balls of their innings.
But Aaron Jones – the hero of their run chase in an opening group win over Canada – hit Haris Rauf for six before Nitish Kumar struck a last-ball full toss for four as the tournament co-hosts levelled the scores.
HIGHLIGHTS: USA vs Pakistan (T20 World Cup)
Even allowing for the USA’s recent 2-1 ODI international series win over Bangladesh – and Pakistan’s infamous reputation for making bad starts to tournaments – this was the landmark result in modern American cricket.
Pakistan captain Babar Azam, in a damning assessment of his side’s performance, said: “We didn’t capitalise with the bat and they took a lot of momentum.”
“We weren’t up to it in the first six overs with the ball as usual, not taking wickets again. But credit to USA, they performed so well today. They were better than us in all aspects of the game.”
The USA were well on course for victory at 104-1 in the 14th over, with Patel and SA-born Andries Gous (35 off 26 balls) sharing a partnership of 68. But they were 111-3 when India-born Patel was caught behind off Amir.
Earlier, USA left-arm spinner Nosthush Kenjige, who opened the bowling, took 3-30 – including two wickets in two balls – from his maximum four overs.
Mohammad Rizwan was superbly caught one-handed at slip by Steven Taylor off Netravalkar before Usman Khan holed out off Kenjige to leave Pakistan 14-2.
Pakistan were in dire straits at 26-3 before a partnership of 72 between Azam (44 off 43 balls) and Shadab Khan (40 off 25) revived the innings, with tailender Shaheen Shah Afridi’s unbeaten 23 boosting their total.
Both teams next play India in New York, with Pakistan facing their arch-rivals on Sunday before the USA are back in action on Wednesday.
