T20 World Cup: Pakistan choke USA with spin, gear up for big Sunday clash against India after 32-run win

Pakistan remain a bit of a mystery. Their batting is blow-hot, blow-cold, the pace bowling just about average but the 2022 finalists have a new trick up their sleeve — the spin choke. Come Sunday, that’s something India have to be careful of, especially on the Premadasa track that gets slower under lights.

On Tuesday, 190-9 wasn’t the steepest chase at the Sinhalese Sports Complex ground. But it was the Pakistan spin quartet of leftarmer Mohammed Nawaz, leggies Shadab Khan and Abrar Ahmed and mystery ‘slinger’ Usman Tariq who completely took the steam out of the chase. Nawaz and Shadab, between the seventh to ninth overs, gave only 10 runs for one wicket and USA’s early momentum of 52-1 from the Powerplay was gone. Tariq then came along with his box of tricks on a slow pitch and it was impossible for the USA batters — inexperienced at this level — to deal with the lack of pace and the occasional turn.



While Tariq capped it off with 3-27, the quartet gave away only 104 off 15, which was significantly lower than the asking-rate. The 32-run win should give Pakistan confidence going into the Sunday blockbuster.

The form of opener Sahibzada Farhan and senior pro Babar Azam was also a relief for the 2009 champions. Opener Farhan (73 off 41 balls) has shown on and off that he has the power to be a threat. Against an USA attack that was missing Ali Khan — the best paceman among the Associate nations — due to an injury, Farhan got some runs that will allow him to go into the India game with some confidence.

Clearing his left foot, Farhan showed his ability to hit through the line and clear the fence with ease. With left-hander Saim Ayub (19 off 17 balls), Farhan put up 54-1 in 5.1 overs, just about par. But it was Farhan’s partnership with Babar (46 off 32 balls) that gave Pakistan the cushion to feel comfortable. Babar, after his failure in the first match, didn’t try to re-invent the wheel. He knows that a slam-bang style won’t suit him and gave himself just that little bit of time to get his eye in, then took his chances against left-arm spinner Harmeet Singh.

Brief scores: Pakistan 190/9 in 20 overs (Sahibzada Farhan 73, Babar Azam 46; van Schalkwyk 4/25) beat USA 158/8 in 20 overs (Shubham Ranjane 51, Shayan Jahangir 49, Usman Tariq 3/27) by 32 runs.


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