Cricket

USA Stuns Pakistan in Super Over Upset at T20 World Cup 2024In a thrilling encounter at the T20 World Cup 2024, the United States pulled off a stunning Super Over upset against Pakistan on Thursday. The Group A match at Grand Prairie, Dallas, went down to the wire after both teams finished with identical scores of 159 in their standard 20 overs.Batting first in the Super Over, USA scored 18 runs against Pakistan's veteran left-arm pacer Mohammad Amir. Seven of those runs came through extras, highlighting Pakistan's poor fielding performance. In reply, Pakistan could only manage 13 runs, handing the victory to the United States.The match took a dramatic turn in the final over of USA's chase. With Pakistan needing to defend 11 runs, Amir advised captain Babar Azam to continue with pace bowling. However, Azam opted to bring on spinner Shadab Khan, who conceded 11 runs and allowed USA to tie the match.In the Super Over, USA's openers, Sushant Modani and Monank Patel, played aggressively and put pressure on Pakistan's bowlers. Amir's poor fielding also contributed to USA's success, as he dropped a catch and conceded a boundary.Pakistan captain Babar Azam expressed disappointment after the loss, acknowledging that his team's performance in the first six overs and the middle overs with the ball cost them the match. He also noted the challenging pitch conditions, which favored pace bowling.The upset victory is a major boost for the United States, who are making their debut at the T20 World Cup. It also raises questions about Pakistan's form and their ability to compete with the top teams in the tournament.

Salman Butt Slams Haris Rauf's Performance in Pakistan's T20 World Cup Loss to USAFormer Pakistan captain Salman Butt has launched a scathing attack on fast bowler Haris Rauf following his underwhelming performance in Pakistan's T20 World Cup match against the USA. Rauf, entrusted with bowling the final over with the USA needing 15 runs to win, conceded a boundary on the last ball, leading to a dramatic finish.Butt, speaking on the 'Cricket Baithak' podcast, expressed his frustration with Rauf's lack of awareness and failure to bowl to the field. "It is not a surprise that he conceded so many runs because he is that kid who doesn't look at his field at all," Butt said. "Mid-off is inside the circle, and yet he bowls full and gets hit for a boundary on the last ball. You can see the captain also screamed at him. When you have mid-off up, then you don't bowl full balls. This is a basic of cricket."Rauf's erratic bowling drew further criticism from Butt, who questioned his professionalism and ability to learn from his mistakes. "He (Haris Rauf) has some weird style when he bowls a ball and just sits on his knees with his hand on his head," Butt continued. "It is as if he incurred a loss in shares or someone robbed him. I don't know what he tries to portray but that is so unprofessional. You never learn anything. They lacked common sense and game awareness."Butt's criticism comes as Pakistan prepares for a high-stakes clash against India on Sunday in New York. The former captain's comments highlight the pressure on Rauf and the Pakistan team to perform in the crucial match.

In a thrilling encounter at the 2024 T20 World Cup, the underdog USA team pulled off a stunning upset against cricketing powerhouse Pakistan. Chasing a modest target of 160, USA cruised initially but faced a late collapse. With five runs needed off the final ball, Nitish Kumar struck a boundary to force a Super Over.In the Super Over, Pakistan's Mohammad Amir opened the bowling against Aaron Jones and Harmeet Singh. Jones started with a boundary, followed by two singles. Amir then conceded two wides, giving USA a significant advantage. Jones added another single, while Harmeet also scored two wides.With USA needing just one run off the final ball, Jones misjudged a full toss and was run out. However, the USA batters had already accumulated 18 runs, setting Pakistan a target of 19.Pakistan's Iftikhar Ahmed started the chase with a boundary but was caught by Nitish Kumar in the next over. Shadab Khan came to the crease with Pakistan needing 14 runs off three balls. He was fortunate to receive two wides, but a leg-bye and a lofted shot brought the equation down to seven runs off one ball.Netravalkar bowled a yorker, which Shadab could only loft to long-off. USA's fielders erupted in celebration as they secured a famous five-run victory.This upset marks a historic moment for USA cricket and sends shockwaves through the cricketing world. It is a testament to the team's determination and the growing strength of cricket in the United States.

Pakistan's Dismal Powerplay Performance in T20 World CupsPakistan's batting woes continued in the ongoing T20 World Cup as they recorded one of the worst powerplay totals in the tournament's history against the USA. In their Group A match in Dallas, Pakistan managed a meager 30 runs in the first six overs, losing three wickets in the process.This dismal performance is not an isolated incident. Pakistan has a history of struggling in the powerplay during T20 World Cups. In 2014, they were bowled out for just 13 runs against the West Indies in Mirpur. In 2022, they managed only 28 runs against Zimbabwe in Perth. In 2021, they scored 29 runs against Namibia in Abu Dhabi and 30 runs against New Zealand in Sharjah.The reasons for Pakistan's powerplay struggles are multifaceted. One factor is the quality of opposition bowling. Teams like the West Indies, Zimbabwe, and New Zealand have pace and precision, which can unsettle even the best batsmen.Another factor is Pakistan's own batting approach. They often rely on big-hitting in the powerplay, which can lead to reckless shots and wickets. Additionally, they have struggled to adapt to different conditions, such as the slow and low pitches in Sharjah.Pakistan's powerplay woes have had a significant impact on their overall performance in T20 World Cups. In the 2022 tournament, they lost all three of their matches and were eliminated in the group stage. In 2021, they reached the semi-finals but were outplayed by Australia in the powerplay.If Pakistan wants to improve their performance in future T20 World Cups, they need to address their powerplay struggles. This means finding a way to counter the quality of opposition bowling and developing a more balanced batting approach. They also need to improve their adaptability to different conditions.