USA’s Netravalkar Heroics Seal Stunning Super Over Win Over Pakistan in T20 WC

In a thrilling encounter at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas, the United States stunned Pakistan in a Super Over to secure the first major upset of the T20 World Cup 2024. The match saw both teams tied at 159 runs, necessitating a Super Over to decide the winner.

Saurabh Netravalkar, a software engineer at Oracle, played a crucial role in the USA’s victory, bowling a tight over that restricted Pakistan to just 13 runs while dismissing Iftikhar Ahmed. Pakistan, led by Babar Azam, had set a challenging target of 159 runs in their innings.

The team managed to reach the mark with a score of 159/7, thanks to contributions from key players like Babar Azam, Shadab Khan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi. However, the USA’s disciplined bowling, particularly from Netravalkar, kept Pakistan’s total within reach.

In the chase, the USA started confidently with openers Monank Patel and Steven Taylor. Despite losing Taylor early, Patel’s composed half-century, combined with vital contributions from Andries Gous and Aaron Jones, kept the USA in the hunt. Haris Rauf and Mohammad Amir bowled well in the death overs, but their efforts were undone by a couple of boundary-laden deliveries that brought the USA level.

The match ended with both teams tied at 159 runs, leading to a Super Over. Pakistan set a target of 14 runs, but Netravalkar’s tight bowling restricted them to just 13 runs, securing the USA’s victory by five runs. This win marks a significant achievement for the USA, showcasing their growing prowess in international cricket. For Pakistan, the loss highlighted vulnerabilities, particularly in handling pressure situations, which they will need to address moving forward in the tournament