USA stun Pakistan in T20 World Cup as fans hail: ‘Biggest upset in cricket history’
The USA sealed perhaps the biggest shock in cricket history by beating Pakistan at the T20 World Cup on Dallas.
The Americans' victory was sealed in dramatic circumstances with the match going to a super over as both sides finishing their innings on 159 at the Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium.
Batting first in the super over, the USA made 18-1, with Aaron Jones on 11 before being run out and seven runs coming via extras.
Iftikhar Ahmed then took Pakistan to 5-0 off three balls in their super over before he was brilliantly caught by Nitish Kumar close to the boundary and USA bowler Saurabh Netravalkar restricted them to 13-1.
In their regulation innings, Pakistan made a slow start, recovering from 26-3 in the fifth over to reach 159-7.
Pakistan captain Babar Azam hit two sixes in his 43-ball 44, Shadab Khan struck 40 off 25 deliveries and number eight Shaheen Afridi plundered 23 not out off 16.
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The USA, who beat Canada by seven wickets in their first match on Saturday, appeared to be cruising in reply, as they reached 104 for one in the 14th over.
Skipper Monank Patel's 38-ball 50 and Andries Gous' 35 off 26 deliveries left them needing 56 to win off 44 balls.
But after Monank was dismissed in the 15th over it needed a six from Jones off the penultimate ball and a four from Kumar off the final delivery to tie the match and force the super over.
Both sides will play India in New York in their next match, with Pakistan facing them on Sunday and the USA next Wednesday.
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The celebrations in the USA camp are under way with the result leaving cricket fans everywhere astounded.
One fan said: "USA have just beaten Pakistan in a game of T20 Cricket at the World Cup. Genuinely never thought I'd ever see that fixture, never mind that result. One of the biggest upsets, if not the biggest upset, in cricket history. Wow."
Another fan said: "TAKE A BOW, USA…!!!! Playing their first match against Pakistan and hammered them, this will go down as one of the greatest performances by an associate team in T20 World Cup history."
This fan said: "USA DEFEATED PAKISTAN IN T20I WORLD CUP 2024. One of the biggest days in USA cricket…!!!!!"
While this fan declared: "USA STUNS PAKISTAN AT THE MEN’S T20 CRICKET WORLD CUP. Biggest upset in the sport's history."