Shadab’s All-Round Brilliance Powers Pakistan Past Spirited USA

Pakistan continued their strong start to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup with a commanding 32-run win over USA in Colombo, rising to the top of Group A with two victories from two matches. While Shadley van Schalkwyk and Shubham Ranjane once again produced eye-catching performances for the USA, Pakistan’s depth and spin strength proved decisive.

After being asked to bat, Pakistan posted an imposing 190 for 9 — their highest T20 World Cup total since 2016. Sahibzada Farhan led the charge with a fluent 73 off 41 balls, setting the tone in a brisk opening stand with Saim Ayub. Farhan combined timing and aggression, punishing anything loose and reaching his half-century in just 27 balls. Babar Azam added stability with 46, accelerating effectively through the middle overs after a cautious start.

Despite a late flurry of wickets, Shadab Khan’s explosive 30 off 12 deliveries ensured Pakistan crossed the 190 mark. Van Schalkwyk was the standout with the ball for the USA, returning impressive figures of 4 for 25 by cleverly mixing his pace, but the absence of injured pacer Ali Khan hurt the American attack at key moments.

In response, USA began brightly through Shayan Jahangir, who struck 49 off 34 balls. Ranjane, battling injury, fought hard for his maiden T20I half-century, smashing two sixes off Shaheen Shah Afridi to keep hopes alive. However, Pakistan’s five-pronged spin attack tightened the grip during the middle overs, collectively claiming seven wickets and choking the chase.

Shadab capped a superb all-round display with 2 for 26, ensuring USA never truly threatened the target. While USA showed resilience, Pakistan’s experience and spin dominance ultimately made the difference.

Catch the match live updates, highlights, and full match coverage on CricRadio. Get fast, accurate, and ad-free updates throughout the game. Download the CricRadio app from the Play Store to stay connected. You can also get the live scores of cricket series directly on the CricRadio website for real-time coverage.