Pakistan Moves to Top of Group A After Defeating USA

Kathmandu. Pakistan secured its second consecutive victory in the ICC T20 World Cup by defeating the USA by 32 runs. Chasing a target of 191 runs set by Pakistan at the Singhalese Sports Club (SSC) Ground in Colombo, the USA managed to score only 158 runs for the loss of 8 wickets in the allotted 20 over.

Despite a half-century from Shubham Ranjane and 49 runs from Shayan Jahagir, the USA could not reach the target. For the USA, Ranjane top-scored with 51 runs off 30 balls, hitting 3 fours and 3 sixes. Opener Jahangir was dismissed after scoring 49 runs off 34 balls, including 5 fours and 2 sixes. Milind Kumar scored 29 runs off 22 balls, while opener and wicketkeeper Andries Gous made 13 runs off 13 balls. Other players failed to reach double digits.

For Pakistan, Usman Tariq took 3 wickets, Shadab Khan took 2, and Shaheen Shah Afridi, Abrar Ahmed, and Mohammad Nawaz took 1 wicket each. Earlier, after losing the toss and batting first, Pakistan scored 190 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in 20 overs. Pakistan's opener Sahibzada Farhan top-scored with 73 runs off 41 balls, assisted by 6 fours and 5 sixes.

Similarly, Babar Azam scored 46 runs off 32 balls with 4 fours and 1 six. Shadab Khan contributed 30 runs off 12 balls, hitting 4 fours and 1 six.

USA's Shadley van Schalkwyk took 4 wickets for 25 runs in his 4 overs. He has taken 4 wickets in two consecutive matches, having previously taken 4 wickets against India as well. He is currently the leading wicket-taker with 8 wickets from two matches.

Ehsan Adil, who has played Test and ODI matches for Pakistan, made his T20 World Cup debut for the USA against Pakistan. However, he failed to take a wicket, conceding 39 runs in 3 overs. With two consecutive wins in Group A, Pakistan is at the top of the table with 4 points. 

Pakistan defeated the Netherlands in their first match. This is the second consecutive defeat for the USA, having lost to India in their first match.