T20 WC: Pakistan secure clinical 32-run win over USA in Group A
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Colombo: Opener Sahibzada Farhan’s explosive 73 and a disciplined bowling performance guided Pakistan to a convincing 32-run victory over the United States in their Group A clash of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup at the Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo, on Tuesday.
Put in to bat, Pakistan posted a competitive 190/9, riding on Farhan’s fearless strokeplay and a crucial third-wicket partnership with former captain Babar Azam. Farhan’s 73 came off just 41 balls, featuring six fours and five towering sixes, and set the tone for the innings after an aggressive 54-run opening stand with Saim Ayub, who contributed a brisk 19.
After Ayub’s dismissal, Farhan found an able ally in Babar, and the pair added 81 runs for the third wicket. Babar’s measured 46 from 32 balls complemented Farhan’s aggression perfectly, keeping the run rate above nine per over and providing a solid platform for Pakistan. Later came a late cameo from Shadab Khan, whose 30 off 12 balls at a strike rate of 250 helped push Pakistan close to the 200-run mark. Shaheen Afridi’s unbeaten 9 further added impetus, ensuring Pakistan finished with a challenging total for the USA.
Chasing 191, the USA showed glimpses of resistance, with Shayan Jahangir top-scoring with 49 off 34 balls and Shubham Ranjane contributing a counter-attacking 51 off 30. Milind Kumar also chipped in with 29, but early wickets and a tight middle-over spell from Pakistan’s bowlers curtailed the chase.
Shadab Khan and Usman Tariq were the standout bowlers, claiming two and three wickets respectively, while Shaheen Afridi and Mohammad Nawaz provided crucial breakthroughs. Shadley van Schalkwyk, who had shone with the ball for the USA in Pakistan’s innings, could not prevent the Men in Green from securing a comprehensive win.
Pakistan captain Salman Agha described the victory as “clinical,” highlighting the team’s all-round performance and flexibility. “We are Pakistan, we do things differently. We knew we could defend 190 and the bowlers executed the plan perfectly. There’s always room for improvement, but today we were very positive and aggressive,” Agha said during the post-match presentation.
Farhan, awarded Player of the Match, credited his preparation and clarity of role at the top of the order. “I was confident. I even told our coach yesterday that I’d perform well today and it worked out. Opening alongside Saim, my role is always to play attacking cricket in the Power-play, and the pitch helped me do that,” he said. Farhan also revealed his goal for the tournament: to win two to three Player of the Match awards.
With this win, Pakistan avenged their shocking defeat to the USA in the 2024 T20 World Cup, demonstrating the Men in Green’s intent and discipline as the tournament progresses.
Brief Scores:
Pakistan: 190/9 in 20 overs (Sahibzada Farhan 73, Babar Azam 46, Shadab Khan 30; Shadley van Schalkwyk 4-25)
USA: 158/8 in 20 overs (Shubham Ranjane 51, Shayan Jahangir 49; Usman Tariq 3-27, Shadab Khan 2-26)
With IANS inputs
