Image Credit- ICC
After bringing Pakistan’s bats to heel and stifling their seasoned top order, the USA produced a composed batting display that levelled the scores at 159 all. Due to this, the match was forced into a Super Over, at which point Pakistan went into high-pressure breakdown mode and the USA truly looked like the more experienced team on the pitch.
The most experienced bowler in Pakistan, Mohammad Amir, bowled three wides in his Super Over, with the US hitters stealing an extra run each time. After the final wide, Mohammad Rizwan gave away an extra run on an overthrow.
The extras and other instances of Pakistani fielding insubordination allowed the USA to score 18 off their Super Over.
With the ball, Saurabh Netravalkar made their task much more challenging. In normal play, he had bowled brilliant for the USA, taking 2 for 18 in his four overs. Additionally, he played an excellent Super Over, giving up just one boundary.
Because of four leg byes on the last delivery, Shadab Khan might have forced a second super over if he hit a six on the final ball. All the way down the ground, he could only hit it to the deep point.
In the second over, left-arm seamer Netravalkar had Rizwan caught at slip by Steven Taylor, quite spectacularly. Pakistan’s score was 14 for 2 after left-arm spinner Nosthush Kenjige had Usman Khan hole out to long off in the third over.
During the powerplay, Netravalkar bowled three overs for just eight runs, while Pakistan managed to score only 35. In the middle overs, Kenjige returned and produced some vital cuts, first eliminating Pakistan’s most proficient batsman, Shadab Khan, for 40 off 25 balls, and then getting Azam Khan first ball with a quick slider. These two combined to take 5 for 48 in eight overs.
Despite being the United States of America’s first significant act of giant-killing on a worldwide scale, their measured batting performance did not seem particularly surprising. They only made 36 runs as a team despite their openers not being split for five overs.
The core of the chase was then created by the second-wicket combination of captain Monank Patel and Andries Gous, who scored 68 runs in 48 balls. Most of the highlights of this partnership came from Monank, who reached his half-century with a score of 50 off 38 after smashing seven fours and one spectacular six down the ground.
Pakistan still needed to bowl well because the USA only needed to score 49, even with Monank and Gous out with 35 balls remaining. The USA needed 15 runs in the last over after Naseem Shah, Shaheen, and Amir excelled during the death overs. After hitting his yorkers there or thereabouts, Haris Rauf reduced the equation to 12 off 3.
However, Nitish Kumar hit a four over mid-off to draw the game after Jones hit a six from a low full-toss on the stumps with five needed off the final ball.
In their Super Overs, both teams scored four runs apiece. However, Pakistan suffered from their irresponsibility with wides and overthrows. Super Over was won by the USA 18 to 13.