The United States achieved a significant upset at the T20 World Cup by defeating cricket powerhouse Pakistan in the super over on Thursday.
Although the U.S. had previously dominated Canada in its first Group A match, their victory over 2022 runner-up Pakistan is considered historic in a country where cricket is not widely understood.
Scotland later took the lead in Group B with a five-wicket triumph over Namibia at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados. Namibia scored 155-9, and Scotland successfully chased down the target with nine balls to spare.
Aaron Jones, who previously scored an unbeaten 94 off 40 balls against Canada, played a crucial role by scoring 36 not out off 26 balls to take the game into the super over.
Pakistan faltered in the super over as experienced fast bowler Mohammad Amir conceded 18 runs, allowing the U.S. to claim a historic Twenty20 win against the 2009 champions.
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Scotland’s Saurabh Netravalkar conceded only 13 runs in the super over, securing the U.S. a historic victory against Pakistan in the tournament.
Despite a strong effort from Pakistan’s Iftikhar Ahmed, Netravalkar’s disciplined bowling ensured a memorable win for the U.S.
U.S. captain Monank Patel expressed his team’s satisfaction with the win, highlighting their effective use of playing conditions in keeping Pakistan’s score chaseable.
Pakistan’s Babar Azam acknowledged the USA’s performance, attributing the loss to their inability to capitalize on early momentum.
Scotland wins
Captain Richie Berrington’s unbeaten 47 from 35 balls, along with a key partnership with Michael Leask, guided Scotland to a victory over Namibia in their first encounter in four T20 internationals.
Scotland now leads Group B with three points after the rained-out match against England and an impressive win over Namibia, ahead of Australia and Namibia with two points each.
Captain Gerhard Erasmus’s performance was notable for Namibia, but Scotland’s strong batting partnership ultimately secured the win.
Leask’s crucial contributions with bat and ball earned him the player of the match award, highlighting Scotland’s all-around performance.
Scotland pursued the target confidently, with Berrington finishing the game in style with a six in the 19th over.
Erasmus expressed regret over Namibia’s missed opportunity and acknowledged Scotland’s strong performance in the match.
