Pakistan beat United States by 32 runs for second straight T20 World Cup win
COLOMBO: Pakistan opener Sahibzada Farhan struck a rapid half-century as the 2009 champions eased to a 32-run victory over the United States on Tuesday, securing their second successive Group A win at the Twenty20 World Cup.
Farhan’s fluent 73 off 41 balls powered Pakistan to 190-9 after they were put in to bat in Colombo, before spinners Usman Tariq and Shadab Khan shared five wickets to prevent the U.S. from repeating their shock win over Pakistan in 2024, despite a defiant half-century from Shubham Ranjane.
“Clinical performance — we started well with the bat and batted really well in the middle,” Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha said. “We have a world-class bowling attack and scoring 190, we knew we could defend that.”
Farhan set the tone early, striking three boundaries off former Pakistan international Ehsan Adil, making his debut for the U.S., before taking Milind Kumar for two sixes as Pakistan raced to 54 without loss after five overs.
Shadley van Schalkwyk removed Saim Ayub (19) and Salman (1) in the sixth over to stall the momentum, with Farhan and Babar Azam then consolidating cautiously.
Babar accelerated in the 13th over, hammering two fours and a six as Harmeet Singh conceded 21 runs, but the former captain fell soon after for 46, caught at long on off Mohammad Mohsin.
Player of the match Farhan, whose knock featured six fours and five sixes, was dismissed in the 16th over while attempting another big hit, leaving Pakistan on 143-4.
Shadab Khan then provided the late impetus, smashing three successive fours off Adil and racing to 30 off 12 balls before falling to Van Schalkwyk, who finished with figures of four for 25 — the same return he managed against India in the tournament opener.
