USA Pulls Off Stunning Upset Over Pakistan
No one really saw it coming. In front of a crowd expecting Pakistan’s experience to shine, the United States cricket team wrote their own fairytale in the T20 World Cup 2024. The game in Dallas on June 6 wasn't just close—it turned into one of the sport’s most memorable shockers as the USA outlasted Pakistan after a tense Super Over, chasing down a hefty target of 18.
After 20 overs each, both teams were deadlocked, pushing the match into a Super Over. The pressure was on, and all eyes shifted to which Pakistani bowler would get the nod. Skipper Babar Azam handed the task to Muhammad Amir instead of star pacer Shaheen Afridi—a move that raised eyebrows even before the first delivery.
Monank Patel Shines Under Pressure
The moment belonged to USA’s batters, especially Monank Patel. He wasted no time, firing a six and back-to-back boundaries right off Amir. Each stroke sent shockwaves through the stadium and left Pakistani fans stunned. By the end of four frenetic balls, Patel and partner Saurabh Netravalkar had reeled in the target, sparking wild celebrations from the USA dugout.
The drama didn’t stop there. Rewind to the main game—Pakistan’s hopes began unraveling long before the Super Over. Held tightly by USA’s disciplined bowlers, Babar Azam’s squad never really broke free with the bat. Even the likes of Mohammad Rizwan and Fakhar Zaman failed to dominate, as pacer Ali Khan and left-armer Saurabh Netravalkar kept things tight.
But perhaps the most astonishing moment came with Leti Gumar’s controversial catch along the boundary. Initially given not out, it took several tense TV replays before the third umpire decided the ball was cleanly caught. That decision sucked the last bit of fight from Pakistan’s chase, turning the stadium’s energy on its head.
For USA cricket, this isn't just a fluke victory. It’s a signal. Their squad—once largely dismissed as a group of local hopefuls—showed tactical guts and real nerve under pressure. Beating a former world champion on a stage like this puts them on the global radar, and is another sign of the game’s rapid growth in the States.
Pundits will keep dissecting Babar Azam’s Super Over tactics for days, and many will wonder how Pakistan’s seasoned stars managed to let it slip away. But for fans in America, it’s a new chapter. Their team just outpaced a cricket powerhouse, and they did it with bold decisions and all-out aggression when it mattered most.
