T20 WC 2024: Match Analysis: Pakistan's turmoil leads to USA's triumphant victory - Cricket Winner

248 years later, it’s that same American dream that likely united 11 cricketers from around the world, who together achieved the greatest cricket win in American history. Bowling first, the USA were on point from the very start. Saurabh Netravalkar, who played in the 2010 U-19 World Cup Quarter Final for India where Pakistan defeated his team, made the first breakthrough for the US by squaring up Mohammad Rizwan, with Steven Taylor taking a spectacular catch in the slips.

After that, left-arm spinner Nosthush Kenjige delivered a tight and controlled performance, outclassing the sloppy Pakistani batters. While Shadab Khan played well, Azam Khan missed a straight delivery, and Babar Azam managed his first boundary only on the 25th ball he faced. Without Shaheen Afridi’s 23 off 16 at the end, Pakistan would have struggled to cross 150. The USA had already done most of the work by then. Ali Khan, who has roots in Pakistan, also played his part effectively, finishing with figures of 1/30.

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Analysis of USA’s Dominant Performance Against Pakistan

🏏 Monank Patel's Match Winning Innings Analysis against @TheRealPCB #cricket #t20worldcup #PakvsUSA @usacricket pic.twitter.com/tvAN1uVd4j

— Saiprasad Kagne (@KEVLAR2601) June 7, 2024

In their batting, the USA faced little trouble from Pakistan’s highly-rated pace attack, as if the bowlers had lost their venom at immigration. Although Naseem Shah managed to seam in and dismiss Taylor early, wicketkeeper and captain Monank Patel (50 off 38) and Andries Gous (35 off 26) established a solid foundation. This allowed the USA to maintain their momentum despite Mohammad Amir’s exceptional bowling (1/25), enabling them to tie the score.

The USA’s hero from the first game, Aaron Jones, once again rose to the occasion. Having grown up playing cricket alongside Nicholas Pooran and Jason Holder, Jones showcased his brilliance by scoring an unbeaten 36 off 26 balls, pushing the USA to a Super Over.

In the Super Over, Pakistan’s weaknesses were exposed. Despite their reputation for unpredictability, the pressure proved too much, and mediocrity was severely punished at this level. Jones, calm and composed, guided his team through the tense moments, delivering a performance that secured the USA’s memorable victory. This historic win was a testament to the team’s resilience and skill, marking a significant milestone in American cricket history.

With one run needed off the last ball, the USA scored 18 in an over that highlighted the worst side of mercurial Pakistan. Their performance was so poor that the USA maintained dominance throughout the game. The Super Over finish doesn’t fully capture the overarching narrative of Pakistan’s own chaos consuming them. In the decisive moment, Netravalkar once again delivered when it mattered most. The Cornell University graduate in Computer Science gave away just one boundary off the bat, effectively stopping Pakistan at 13/1 and securing a historic victory for the USA.

Netravalkar might not have played for the Indian national team, but along with his teammates from South Africa, Barbados, and Pakistan, he secured a sweet victory for himself and his adopted nation. This triumph is perhaps what the founders of the world’s oldest democracy envisioned: a land of opportunities where people from around the globe can come and aspire to be more than just their names and origins—to become bigger, to become winners.