The United States surprised Pakistan of their T20 World Cup match at Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas on Thursday. The match went to a Super Over after each groups tied on the finish of 40 overs. Pakistan batted first and scored 159 for 7, with Babar Azam making 44 off 43 balls. Pakistan was struggling at 26 for 3 in 4.4 overs earlier than Babar and Shadab Khan added 72 runs collectively. Shaheen Afridi additionally contributed with an unbeaten 23 off 16 balls. Nosthush Kenjige was one of the best bowler for the USA, taking 3 wickets for 30 runs in 4 overs.
Chasing 160, the USA completed at 159 for 3 in 20 overs. Needing 5 runs off the final ball, Nitish Kumar hit Haris Rauf for a 4 to tie the match and drive a Super Over. In the Super Over, the USA set a goal of 19 runs for Pakistan, who may solely handle 13 in response.
Babar Azam Blame Bowlers For This Loss
According to Pakistan captain Babar Azam the rating of 159 was sufficient to defend towards co-hosts USA. However, Azam blamed the bowlers’ poor efficiency for the surprising loss at Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas on Thursday.
Babar Azam’s Press Conference
Babar mentioned, “The early-morning wicket helped bowlers in the powerplay. However, as the day progressed, the pitch seemed to settle and the conditions were not different. The early start time of 10:30 AM naturally gives the fast bowlers an advantage, as there is more moisture and ‘juice’ in the pitch during the cooler morning hours. USA bowlers capitalized on these favorable conditions and executed their game plan effectively.”
“Despite some help in the second innings, our bowling was subpar, particularly in the first 10 overs. While we managed to recover later on, the opposition had already seized the momentum by that point. Given the quality of our bowling attack, we should have been able to defend that total on this pitch,” said Azam.
“Our bowling performance was subpar. We failed to take any wickets in the first six overs. When spinners isn’t taking wickets in the middle overs, it puts immense pressure on the team. Although we managed to make a comeback after ten overs, the US team deserves credit for their strong finish in the Super Over,” he continued.
“The ball was holding a bit and moving in the first six overs. Shadab and I built a solid partnership to gain momentum. But we lost wickets in quick succession, which proved to be the turning point as the momentum shifted. Middle order needs to step up and deliver in such games. This is not an excuse – USA did not play exceptionally well, we performed poorly,” he additional said.
Pakistan’s Next Game Is Against India
Pakistan is in bother after dropping to the USA. Their subsequent sport towards India shall be nearly like a knockout match. It will happen at Nassau County Stadium in New York on Sunday, June 9. Historically, Pakistan has struggled towards India in T20 World Cups, dropping six out of seven matches. However, Pakistan’s captain, Babar Azam, stays optimistic, saying the result will depend upon which crew stays composed.
