T20 World Cup: Saurabh Netravalkar’s composed Super Over helps USA beat Pakistan by 5 runs
In what was the first-ever game between them in international cricket, the USA managed to beat Pakistan in the Super Over in a Group A clash at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas.
Mohammad Amir took the ball for Pakistan in the Super Over and looked rusty spraying the ball all over the pitch and conceding 19 runs which included seven wides in the over. However, USA’s Saurabh Netravalkar kept his composure in the high-pressure over executed his skills to perfection picked the wicket of Iftikhar Ahmed, and helped the USA win by five runs.
Winning the toss and opting to bowl first, USA bowlers managed to restrict Pakistan for 159/7 in their 20 overs quota. With five runs required off the last ball, Nitish Kumar scored a four over mid off to level the scores.
Earlier, India-born American batter Monank Patel registered a half-century – his first in T20Is – to lead the charge with the bat while Andries Gous scored a handy 35. The duo were sailing smooth to the total when Pakistan twice in quick succession. Despite the wickets lost and the run rate dipping towards the end, and with 12 runs needed off the last three balls, USA managed to keep the game alive.
After losing the toss, the 2009 winners and last edition’s runner ups were off to a poor start after being put in to bat first.
Losing Mohammad Rizwan, Usman Khan and Fakhar Zaman inside the powerplay, Pakistan were three wickets down for 26 at one stage.
The rocky start was followed by a recovery – temporary at least – as Shadab Khan (40 off 25) added 72 runs for the fourth wicket with skipper Babar Azam (44 off 43). But the US bowlers made a quick comeback to remove both set batters and put Pakistan on the backfoot.
It was Shaheen Shah Afridi whose cameo of 25 helped propel Pakistan beyond the 150-run mark.
In the bowling department, Noshtush Kenjige was the pick of the bowlers for USA, as he snapped three wickets. Saurabh Netravalkar snapped a couple of wickets while Pakistan origin bowler Ali Khan and Jasdeep Singh took a wicket each.
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