Hey there, cricket fans! Imagine this: It’s a sunny afternoon in Dallas, Texas, and the air is buzzing with excitement. The United States National Cricket Team vs Pakistan National Cricket Team Match Scorecard, one of the sport’s true powerhouses. This isn’t just any game – it’s the 11th match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, Group A. What unfolded was nothing short of a fairy tale. The USA pulled off a historic win, tying the scores and then clinching it in a nail-biting Super Over. If you’re new to cricket or just love a good underdog story, stick around. I’ll break it down step by step, like we’re chatting over a cup of tea, with all the thrills, spills, and that full scorecard you’ve been asking for. Let’s dive in!
Setting the Stage: Why This Match Mattered So Much
Cricket in the United States? Yeah, it’s a thing – and it’s growing faster than you can say “sixer.” The USA co-hosted the 2024 T20 World Cup, bringing the action to American soil for the first time. Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas became the unlikely battleground for this clash on June 6, 2024. For the hosts, it was a chance to prove they belong among the giants. Led by captain Monank Patel, the USA team is a melting pot of talent – think immigrants chasing dreams, weekend warriors turned pros, and a whole lot of heart.
Pakistan, on the other hand? They’re cricket royalty. With legends like Babar Azam at the helm, they’ve won the T20 World Cup before (back in 2009) and have a knack for dramatic comebacks. But here’s the twist: Pakistan had just stumbled against the USA in a warm-up, and whispers of complacency were in the air. The toss? USA won it and chose to bowl first – a bold move on a pitch that looked like it would favor the batsmen.
What made this match iconic? It wasn’t just about runs and wickets. It was a symbol of cricket’s global reach. For American fans, many discovering the game through baseball vibes or Bollywood flicks, this was their Super Bowl moment. And for the rest of the world? A reminder that in T20, anything can happen. By the end, the USA had scripted history: their first-ever win against a Test-playing nation in T20Is. Talk about fireworks!
The Pitch and Conditions: A Batter’s Paradise with a Twist
Let’s talk about the ground game. Grand Prairie Stadium isn’t your typical cricket venue – it’s a multi-purpose spot that usually hosts soccer or concerts. The pitch was fresh, grassy, and promised bounce, but as the game wore on, it slowed down just enough to keep bowlers in the hunt. Sunny skies, no rain delays, and a crowd of about 7,000 roaring like it was the IPL finals. Dew? Minimal, thank goodness – no excuses there.
For the uninitiated: In T20 cricket, matches are fast-paced – 20 overs per side, about three hours of pure adrenaline. Bowlers aim for swing and seam, batsmen go for boundaries. This pitch played fair, but the USA’s disciplined bowling turned it into a thriller.
Pakistan’s Innings: A Rollercoaster of Hope and Heartbreak
Pakistan opened with their rock-solid duo: Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam. The plan? Build a platform, then explode. But oh boy, did things unravel early.
Ali Khan, USA’s fiery fast bowler, struck gold in the second over. Babar Azam, the world’s top-ranked T20 batter, edged one to the slips – out for a duck! Just like that, Pakistan were 12/1. Rizwan steadied the ship, but Saurabh Netravalkar – a left-arm seamer with swing like a wizard – got in on the act. Rizwan holed out to deep midwicket for 44 off 31 balls, a gritty knock with a few elegant drives that had the Pakistani fans cheering.
Enter Shadab Khan and Iftikhar Ahmed. Shadab smashed a quick 40 off 25, including a massive six that cleared the ropes like it was nothing. But just when Pakistan seemed to cruise at 100/3 after 13 overs, the USA clawed back. Nosthush Kenjige, spinning tricks from the left-arm angle, bamboozled Shadab with a wrong’un. Then, in a moment of magic, he clean-bowled Iftikhar for 22.
The middle order crumbled: Fakhar Zaman fell cheaply, and Azam Khan’s aggressive 10 off 8 ended in controversy – a reviewed LBW that stood as umpire’s call. Haris Rauf and Shaheen Afridi added a few lusty blows, but Netravalkar returned to trap Afridi LBW for 3. Pakistan finished at 159/7 in 20 overs. It felt like they were 20 runs short, but in T20, that’s a street fight waiting to happen.
Key stat? Pakistan’s 100 runs in 13.2 overs showed promise, but losing 7 wickets meant no big finishers. The USA fielding was electric – Steven Taylor took a screamer at point, breaking the record for most catches in USA T20Is (10 in total!).
USA’s Chase: Guts, Glory, and a Game-Changing Stand
Now, the chase. USA needed 160 to win – a tall order against Pakistan’s pace battery of Shaheen Afridi and Mohammad Amir. Openers Shayan Jahangir and Steven Taylor gave them a solid start, racing to 42/0 in the powerplay. But Amir, the veteran slinger, removed both – Taylor for 16 and Jahangir for 22. At 33/2 after 5 overs, nerves were jangling.
Enter Aaron Jones and Andries Gous. What a partnership! These two turned the game on its head with a 72-run stand off just 48 balls. Gous, the wicketkeeper-batter, played with flair – elegant covers and a pulled six that echoed around the stadium. He fell for 35 off 26, but not before taking the score to 105/3.
Jones, oh Jones! The right-hander from New York was poetry in motion. He notched 36 off 26, with boundaries that screamed confidence. But the real hero emerged in Nitish Kumar. With USA wobbling at 115/5 after Jones holed out to long-on, Kumar walked in like he owned the place. He and Patel (who made 25 off 18) added 23 crucial runs, but it was Kumar’s final flourish that etched his name in lore.
Needing 15 off the last over from Haris Rauf, the pressure was immense. Rauf, steaming in at 150kph, got Patel stumped for 25. Then, with 11 needed off 3 balls, Kumar faced fire. A dot, a single, and then – drama! On the penultimate ball, needing 5 to win, Kumar unleashed a scoop-shot four! Scores level at 159/7. Last ball: a single to tie? No – USA held firm. Super Over it was!
The Super Over: Where Legends Are Made (and Dreams Shattered)
Super Overs are cricket’s penalty shootout – one over each, highest score wins. USA’s Saurabh Netravalkar vs Pakistan’s Iftikhar Ahmed. Netravalkar, the Mumbai-born engineer who’s lived the American dream, was ice-cool. Iftikhar smashed a six first ball, but Netravalkar yorked the rest: two dots, a single, and a wide that cost Pakistan dear. They managed just 13/1.
Now, USA’s turn. Haris Rauf vs Patel and Jones. Rauf started with a wide, then conceded a four off a full toss to Jones. Patel added a boundary, and a leg-bye pushed them to 18/1. Pakistan needed 19 to tie – impossible. USA wins by 5 runs! The crowd erupted; hugs, high-fives, and tears flowed. Netravalkar, Player of the Match, beamed: “This is for the USA!”
The Full United States National Cricket Team vs Pakistan National Cricket Team Match Scorecard: Every Run, Wicket, and Highlight at a Glance
To make it super easy, here’s the complete scorecard in a table. I’ve kept it simple – no jargon overload. Batsmen on top, bowlers below, extras included. (All figures from official ICC records.)
Batting Scorecard
| Team | Batsman | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pakistan | Mohammad Rizwan (wk) | c Taylor b Netravalkar | 44 | 31 | 4 | 1 | 141.94 |
| Babar Azam (c) | c Taylor b Khan | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | |
| Fakhar Zaman | c Gous b Kenjige | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 16.67 | |
| Shadab Khan | b Kenjige | 40 | 25 | 3 | 2 | 160.00 | |
| Iftikhar Ahmed | b Kenjige | 22 | 21 | 1 | 0 | 104.76 | |
| Azam Khan † | lbw b Cheema | 10 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 125.00 | |
| Imad Wasim | not out | 31 | 24 | 2 | 0 | 129.17 | |
| Haris Rauf | run out (Cheema/†Gous) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 | |
| Shaheen Afridi | lbw b Netravalkar | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 75.00 | |
| Extras | (lb 3, w 3, nb 1) | 7 | – | – | – | – | |
| Total | 7 wkts, 20 overs | 159 | – | 11 | 3 | 7.95 rr | |
| USA | Shayan Jahangir | c Rizwan b Amir | 22 | 18 | 3 | 0 | 122.22 |
| Steven Taylor | c Babar b Amir | 16 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 145.45 | |
| Aaron Jones | c Shadab b Afridi | 36 | 26 | 4 | 0 | 138.46 | |
| Nitish Kumar | not out | 26* | 14 | 3 | 0 | 185.71 | |
| Monank Patel (c) | st †Rizwan b Afridi | 25 | 18 | 2 | 0 | 138.89 | |
| Andries Gous (†) | c Imad b Rauf | 35 | 26 | 3 | 1 | 134.62 | |
| Harmeet Singh | c Babar b Afridi | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 | |
| Extras | (b 4, lb 2, w 5) | 11 | – | – | – | – | |
| Total | 7 wkts, 20 overs | 159 | – | 17 | 1 | 7.95 rr |
Bowling Scorecard
| Bowler (Team) | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pakistan Bowlers | ||||||
| Shaheen Afridi | 4 | 0 | 26 | 3 | 6.50 | 3/26 |
| Mohammad Amir | 4 | 0 | 25 | 2 | 6.25 | 2/25 |
| Haris Rauf | 4 | 0 | 40 | 1 | 10.00 | 1/40 |
| Imad Wasim | 4 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 5.50 | – |
| Shadab Khan | 2 | 0 | 21 | 0 | 10.50 | – |
| Iftikhar Ahmed | 2 | 0 | 21 | 0 | 10.50 | – |
| USA Bowlers | ||||||
| Saurabh Netravalkar | 4 | 0 | 18 | 2 | 4.50 | 2/18 |
| Ali Khan | 2 | 0 | 32 | 1 | 16.00 | 1/32 |
| Nosthush Kenjige | 4 | 0 | 37 | 3 | 9.25 | 3/37 |
| Harmeet Singh | 4 | 0 | 34 | 0 | 8.50 | – |
| Jasdeep Singh | 3 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 4.33 | – |
| Aryan Dutt | 2 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 6.50 | – |
| Amiruddin Cheema | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 6.00 | 1/6 |
Super Over Scorecard
| Team | Batter | Runs | Bowler |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pakistan | Iftikhar Ahmed | 13/1 | Netravalkar (0/11) |
| USA | Aaron Jones & Monank Patel | 18/1 | Rauf (1/15) |
Fall of Wickets (Pakistan): 1-12 (Babar), 2-33 (Fakhar), 3-91 (Rizwan), 4-107 (Shadab), 5-124 (Iftikhar), 6-150 (Azam), 7-155 (Shaheen). Fall of Wickets (USA): 1-22 (Taylor), 2-33 (Jahangir), 3-105 (Gous), 4-128 (Jones), 5-149 (Harmeet), 6-157 (Patel), 7-159 (did not bat).
Key Moments That Had Us on the Edge of Our Seats
- Babar’s Golden Duck: Over 2.1 – Khan’s swing nipped one in. Pakistan stunned!
- Shadab’s Fireworks: A six over cow corner in over 10 – pure T20 magic.
- Kenjige’s Hat-trick Tease: Three wickets in four overs? He nearly had a hat-trick.
- Gous-Jones Partnership: From 33/2 to 105/3 – that’s how you chase.
- Nitish’s Scoop of Doom: Over 19.6 – four to tie. The stadium lost its mind!
- Netravalkar’s Nerves of Steel: Super Over wide aside, he defended 18 like a boss.
These weren’t just plays; they were stories. Taylor’s catch? A diving stunner that saved 10 runs. Patel’s stumping? Lightning hands.
Player Spotlights: Heroes Who Lit Up Dallas
- Saurabh Netravalkar (USA): POTM with 2/18 + Super Over mastery. From software engineer to cricket savior – the American Dream in whites (well, blues).
- Nitish Kumar (USA): 26* off 14, including that match-tying four. Unsung hero from the bench.
- Shadab Khan (Pakistan): 40 off 25 kept them alive. All-rounder with flair.
- Shaheen Afridi (Pakistan): 3/26 in the chase – if only the bat had clicked.
USA’s Monank Patel summed it up: “Beating Pakistan opens many doors for us.” Babar? “We need to regroup.” Humble in defeat, but the fire’s there.
The Bigger Picture: What This Win Means for Cricket
This wasn’t just a game; it was a milestone. For USA cricket, it’s rocket fuel. Memberships are up, kids are picking up bats, and the sport’s shedding its “immigrant-only” tag. Globally, it proves T20’s magic – upsets breed excitement, drawing in new fans from Texas to Tokyo.
Pakistan? A wake-up call. They bounced back later in the tournament, but this loss stung. It highlighted the need for consistency against underdogs.
Fun fact: This was the first tied T20 World Cup match since 2012, and USA’s first Super Over win ever. Stats geeks, rejoice!
Wrapping It Up: A Night We’ll Never Forget
From Babar’s shock exit to Nitish’s scoop, and Netravalkar’s cool finish – the United States National Cricket Team vs Pakistan National Cricket Team Match Scorecard thriller was cricket at its raw, joyous best. If you’re a newbie, welcome! Grab a bat, watch some highlights, and remember: in this game, heart beats hierarchy every time. What’s your take – biggest upset ever? Drop a comment below. Until next time, keep it crickety, folks!
