Monank Patel, Aaron Jones and Andries Gous came up with good contributions while and Nitish Kumar played an important role as well with his 14, which included a four off the final ball that took the game into the Super Over. Monank Patel provided most of the highlights in this partnership, making 50 off 38, hitting seven fours and one glorious six down the ground to get to his half-century, off Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Monank Patel was out soon after, but had left USA in a potentially winning position. It was a collective effort with several heroes turning up for USA.
Pitch and Toss
The surface offered early seam movement in each of the first two games with decent bounce and carry, with the opening game – held at this venue – throwing up the two highest scores of the tournament so far. Both sides will be hoping it’s anything but the kind of deck we saw in New York last night.
USA skipper Monank Patel won the toss and chose to bowl and made one change bringing in Nosthush Kenjige for Shadley van Schalkwyk. Pakistan skipper Babar Azam batting first will now look to score decent runs versus USA.
USA make early inroads in the Powerplay
USA started with the left-arm spin of Kenjige, who was swept for a six by Mohammad Rizwan in the opening over. But Rizwan’s stay was short-lived as Netravalkar found the outside edge and Steven Taylor took a stunning one-handed catch diving to his right at slip. Kenjige also found success as Usman Khan’s attempt to go over the off side resulted in a catch to long-off. Fakhar Zaman started with a six off Kenjige but Babar Azam was struggling at the other end, unable to rotate strike and find the boundaries.
To add to Pakistan’s problems, Fakhar handed a catch to short fine leg attempting a lap shot in Ali Khan’s opening over. Another economical over from Netravalkar, who had figures of 1-8 from his three overs, helped the USA keep the opposition in check in the powerplay, with the Pakistan captain managing only 4 off 14.
Left-arm seamer Netravalkar had Rizwan caught at slip – fairly spectacularly by Steven Taylor – to begin with, second over. Then, in the third, left-arm spinner Nosthush Kenjige had Usman Khan holing out to long-off, bringing Pakistan’s score to 14 for 2. Others would take wickets in between, of course, but these two would continue to impose themselves. Pakistan made only 35 in the powerplay, and Netravalkar bowled three overs for just eight runs in that phase.
Shadab counterattacks but USA hit back as Kenjige strikes in middle overs
USA continued to keep it tight after the powerplay, with Pakistan getting only 46 in the first nine overs. The much-needed impetus came in the 10th over, which was bowled by Jasdeep Singh, with Shadab striking two successive sixes and Babar ended the over with his first four, which was also the first of Pakistan’s innings. 20 came off the 10th over and Pakistan continued the momentum as Babar hit a four off Kenjige and followed it up with a six off Harmeet Singh, and the bowler was also struck for a four and a six by Shadab in the same over.
The fourth wicket pair put on a quick-fire 72 run stand which was broken when Shadab swept a Kenjige delivery to short fine leg. The left-arm spinner trapped Azam Khan in front off the very next ball, with a review failing to come to the batter’s aid, to finish with 3 for 30 despite going for 17 off his first two overs. Babar put away a short ball from Harmeet for a four but Pakistan had a lot of work to do in the death overs to put up a good total.
Kenjige came back in the middle overs and made crucial incisions, dismissing Shadab Khan, who looked the most fluent of Pakistan’s batters, for 40 off 25 balls, before getting Azam Khan first ball with a fast slider. All up, these two took 5 for 48 in eight overs between them.
Afridi cameo helps Pakistan past 150
A six for Babar off Jasdeep, followed by a four for Iftikhar, set the ball rolling for Pakistan in the death overs but the captain fell in the same over, trapped leg-before. Corey Anderson and Ali Khan did well to keep it tight, conceding only 6 and 7 respectively in the 17th and 18th overs. Netravalkar returned to pick up the wicket of Iftikhar in the 19th over but was hit for a six by Shaheen Afridi who also struck a maximum off Ali Khan in the final over, scoring a handy 23 that helped Pakistan set USA a target of 160.
USA off to positive start in Powerplay as skipper Monank Patel takes charge
In contrast to Pakistan’s start, USA got off the blocks quickly as Monank Patel scored regular boundaries. Mohammad Amir was wayward with his lines in his first over while Monank Patel hit three fours off Afridi’s first two overs and Pakistan also ended up losing a review after going upstairs for a ball that pitched outside leg. There was swing on offer for the Pakistan pacers as well but that was offset by USA’s positive batting, especially their captain Monank Patel
Naseem Shah, meanwhile, started with a four-run over and struck in his second, getting Taylor to edge a length delivery to the ‘keeper. Naseem also found the outside edge of Gous’s bat but the ball landed short of Iftikhar at slip and went to the boundary. The powerplay ended on a positive note for USA with Gous playing a pick-up shot over midwicket for a four off Naseem, with the hosts getting seven fours in the first six overs.
Although this would turn out to be USA’s first major act of giant-killing on the global stage, their measured batting performance gave no sense of being a bolt from the blue. Their openers were not parted for five overs, but they only made 36 together. Then the second-wicket partnership, between captain Monank Patel and Andries Gous, brought 68 runs in 48 balls, and formed the backbone of the chase.
Monank Patel provided most of the highlights in this partnership, making 50 off 38, hitting seven fours and one glorious six down the ground to get to his half-century, off Shaheen Shah Afridi. He was out soon after, but had left USA in a potentially winning position.
Pakistan strike after Monank Patel-Gous stand
Gous put away a couple of deliveries from Haris Rauf past point for fours, showcasing good timing and finding the gaps effectively. Apart from the boundaries, Monank Patel and Gous rotated the strike well with singles and twos to keep USA on track in the chase.
Shadab Khan gave away only five in his first over but was hit for a straight six by Gous in his second as USA made good progress, moving to 76/1 at the halfway stage of the innings. The half-century stand was raised in the 12th over, off 38 deliveries, with Gous having contributed 35. Monank Patel, who had slowed down a touch, began accelerating again as he struck a couple of fours off Iftikhar in the 12th over.
Monank Patel continued his one-upmanship against Afridi when he returned to the attack, going over mid-off four a four followed by and authoritative straight six that helped the opener bring up a 34-ball fifty and help USA past 100 in the 13th over. The 68-run stand ended in the 14th over when Rauf had Gous bowled for 35 off 26.
A lucky boundary for Aaron Jones off an inside edge helped him get off the mark in the same over. USA suffered another setback in the next over as Monank Patel, looking to force an Amir delivery through the off side, edged it to the ‘keeper.
Jones, Nitish overcome Pakistan pacers to force Super Over
Even with Monank Patel and Gous out with 35 balls to go, Pakistan still had to bowl well, with USA only needing 49. Naseem Shah, Shaheen and Amir shone through the death overs to leave USA needing 15 off the last over. Haris Rauf, landing his yorkers there or thereabouts, brought the equation down to 12 off 3.
But then, Jones smashed a six off a low full-toss on the stumps, then with five required off the last ball, Nitish Kumar crashed a four over mid-off to tie the game.
With 45 needed off 30, Jones took on Shadab to clear the midwicket fence for a much-needed six. But a tight over from Naseem, in which he conceded only six, put the pressure back on USA, who needed 28 from 18. Afridi missed a yorker as Jones carved a low full toss over cover for a four. But only seven came off the over, leaving USA needing 21 off the last two overs.
Pakistan lost a review for a leg-before appeal in the 19th over but Amir was accurate with his yorkers as he cut off the boundary options. Nitish Kumar managed three off the last ball, bringing the equation to 15 off the last over. Rauf conceded only three runs off his first three deliveries in the final over before Jones nailed a low full toss past the fence. Nitish went over mid off for a boundary to take the game into the super over.
Super Over drama as USA’s Saurabh Netravalkar turns out to be hero for USA.
Aaron Jones and Harmeet Singh came out to bat in the Super Over for USA, with the former placing the ball behind square on the off side off Mohammad Amir for a four off the first ball. Amir tried to nail the yorkers and didn’t concede another boundary in the over. But he was guilty of bowling several wides, with the batters sneaking in extra runs to finish with 18. Saurabh Netravalkar started with a dot ball to Iftikhar Ahmed but the batter put away the next through the midwicket region for a four, which was followed by a wide.
Iftikhar tried to clear long off but a terrific diving catch from Milind Kumar put further pressure on Pakistan who needed 14 from 3. The next one was a wide again, followed by a fortunate boundary via leg-byes. A couple off the next brought it down to 7 off the final delivery, with Shadab needing to clear the ropes for another Super Over. But that wasn’t to be as Netravalkar conceded only a single to deliver a famous win for USA.
It was at this point, though, that the more experienced international team lost their heads, and USA kept theirs. Both teams hit a four each in their Super Overs. But Pakistan’s waywardness in terms of wides and overthrows cost them. USA won the Super Over 18 to 13.
Presentations and Road Ahead
Babar Azam the loosing skipper said : First 6 overs while batting we didn’t capitalize. Back to back wickets always put you on the back foot, as a batter you need to step up and build partnerships. We were not up to the mark in the first 6 overs with the ball. Our spinners also did not take wickets in the middle overs so these things cost us.
Very hard, all credit to USA, they played better than us in all three departments. Little bit of moisture in the pitch, it was also two-paced. As a professional you need to assess the conditions.
Monank Patel the winning skipper said: Winning the toss and the way we bowled in the first 6 overs, we took wickets and kept them quiet. We knew they will take chances after their partnership. We knew we were in the game with 160 to chase, just needed a partnership. Playing in a World Cup, you don’t get a chance to do it every year. We were fully committed every single ball.
Monank Patel too won the Player of the match for his 50 said : It is a big achievement, beating Pakistan and that too playing (them) for the first time. It was a complete team effort. We won the toss and we made sure we utilized the conditions well, we did really well to keep them under 160. I am happy with my contribution and more happy that we won the game.
We spoke about the top three contributing and happy that myself and Gous could do that. The plan was to play proper shots and he (Gous) took the pressure off me. Happy to get the two points. As a batter and player you want to show off in the big games and I am happy that my knock came in a winning cause.
USA muzzled an experienced Pakistan top order, brought their hitters to heel, then produced a measured batting performance that tied the scores at 159-all.This forced the game into a Super Over, and here is when USA really seemed like the veteran team on the circuit while Pakistan went into high-pressure-meltdown mode.
Mohammad Amir, Pakistan’s most experienced bowler, bowled three wides in his Super Over, the US batters stealing another run every time, and Mohammad Rizwan conceded another extra run on an overthrow off the last of these wides.
Thanks to the extras and other acts of fielding indiscipline from Pakistan, USA made 18 off their Super Over If this already seemed a tough ask for Pakistan to better, Saurabh Netravalkar made their job even more difficult. He had been outstanding for USA in regular play, taking 2 for 18 from his four overs. His Super Over was outstanding too, as he conceded just one boundary.
Thanks to four leg byes off the penultimate delivery, Shadab Khan had the opportunity to send the match into a second super over if he clobbered a six off the last ball. He could only hit it to deep point, all along the ground.
The USA were jubilant, having taken down the biggest opposition they had ever faced. Pakistan, ahead of their massive match against India, had been subjected to one of their greatest World Cup setbacks. It’s not as if Pakistan had had it in their grip and let it slip – USA had actually been in control of this match for much of its duration.
A win to savior for the USA! They’ve pulled off a massive upset here against the ever mercurial Pakistan! That also means that the USA now have 2 wins from 2 games. That will be a very deflating loss for a Pakistan side that came into the tournament looking rather insipid. One can only admire the grit of the USA players, they held out and didn’t succumb under pressure like many inexperienced sides tend to do in such situations. They fought right till the end, managed to hang in there even when the chips were down.
It went into the super-over and they were the ones who kept their calm much better in that super-over. Pakistan have only themselves to blame. They were extremely sloppy and clumsy with the ball, they were scattered and uncoordinated in the field and they ended up conceding 19. It was a bit too much to ask of the batters as USA claimed a famous win.
That’s the first big upset of this T20 World Cup. It’ll do wonders to the confidence of the USA players. After a superb win over Canada, they came out here and played like seasoned professionals to pip Pakistan. Their World Cup campaign is off to a rollicking start. As for Pakistan, a loss like this couldn’t have come at a worse time.
They’d been very scratchy leading up to the tournament and would’ve hoped for a win here to set things right before that all important clash against India that’s up next. Instead, they’re left with even more headaches than they came with. The USA have a five-day break before their next match against India on June 12 at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York. Pakistan also face India, on June 9 at the same venue.