02/10/26 06:47:00
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02/10 18:42 CST T20 World Cup: Pakistan avenges 2024 loss to US and NZ duo
shares record partnership
T20 World Cup: Pakistan avenges 2024 loss to US and NZ duo shares record
partnership
CHENNAI, India (AP) --- Pakistan avenged its shocking loss to the United States
from two years ago at the T20 World Cup on Tuesday, and New Zealand openers Tim
Seifert and Finn Allen shared the highest-ever partnership for any wicket at
the tournament.
The U.S., which gave co-host India a scare in its opening game before going
down by 29 runs in Mumbai, struggled against Pakistan's spinners and lost by 32
runs in Colombo. It gave Pakistan its second successive win in Group A ahead of
its huge showdown with archrival India on Sunday, a match that will go ahead
after Pakistan reversed its decision to boycott.
Opener Sahibzada Farhan (73) and the experienced Babar Azam (46) gave Pakistan
a strong total of 190-9 despite fast bowler Shadley van Schalwyk snaring his
second four-wicket haul of the tournament.
The U.S. entered the game with happy memories of its stunning win over Pakistan
in Texas in 2024, but its batters couldn't get momentum against mystery spinner
Usman Tariq (3-27) and leg-spinner Shadab Khan (2-26). The other two spinners,
Mohammad Nawaz and Abrar Ahmed, shared two wickets.
The U.S. batters looked more at ease against the pace of Shaheen Shah Afridi,
who returned 1-42 before Pakistan's tactic of deploying five spinners for the
rest of the game worked well under the lights at Sinhalese Sports Club.
Shubham Ranjane posted 51 off 30 balls and opener Shayan Jahangir showed some
aggression in the power play with 49 from 34 deliveries, but couldn't force the
acceleration against spin-heavy Pakistan.
Tariq, who has an unusual side bowling action and takes a long pause just
before delivering the ball, deceived the U.S. batters with his unique bowling
style as he grabbed the wickets of Harmeet Singh and then Mohsin Ali off
successive deliveries.
After being put into bat, Farhan hit five sixes and six boundaries and Babar
got over another slow start and scored at a reasonable strike rate of 143.75.
Babar, who is often criticized for his slow strike rate and is pushed down to
No. 4, scored just 15 off 18 balls before accelerating with four boundaries and
a six.
Pakistan lost Farhan and Babar in successive overs but Shadab played a vital
cameo of 30 off just 12 balls as the U.S. claimed five wickets off the last 10
balls in a late collapse, including two in the penultimate over bowled by van
Schalwyk.
Seifert and Allen's record
In Chennai, Seifert and Allen's brutal power-hitting in an unbroken stand of
175 saw the Black Caps beat UAE by 10 wickets.
Seifert followed his half century in the first Group D game against Afghanistan
with an unbeaten 89 off 42 balls. Allen was not far behind and smacked 84 not
out off 50 balls.
New Zealand sprinted to 175-0 in 15.2 overs for its second successive win in a
group that also features 2024 finalist South Africa. After winning the toss,
UAE skipper Muhammad Waseem (66 not out off 45 deliveries) and Alishan Sharafu
(55 off 47) had earlier anchored their team on a good batting wicket to 173-6
in 20 overs.
But the target proved too small for the aggressive New Zealand batters.
Seifert and Allen made a rollicking start of 78-0 in the power play as the UAE
pacemen bowled too many length balls which were duly dispatched for boundaries.
Seifert hit 12 fours and three sixes, including the winning six over the head
of Muhammad Rohid, who was the most expensive UAE bowler with 0-51 in 3.2
overs. Junaid Siddique's four overs went for 47 without a wicket, and Muhammad
Arfan conceded 36 runs off his three overs.
Allen matched Seifert with his innovative ramp shots and hit five fours and
five sixes.
The previous record stand at a men's T20 World Cup (170 runs) was set by
England batters Alex Hales and Jos Buttler against India in 2022.
De Leede stars in Dutch first win
In a day game at New Delhi, Bas de Leede's all-round performance earned
Netherlands a seven-wicket win over Namibia in Group A.
De Leede took 2-20 as the Dutch used eight bowlers and Namibia scored 156-8. De
Leede then smashed four sixes and five boundaries and guided his team to 159-3
in 18 overs with an unbeaten 72 off 48 balls.
___
AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket
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