Arizona Tribune - United States restrict Pakistan to 159-7 in T20 World Cup

NYSE - LSE
CMSC 0.68% 20.48 $
CMSD 0.88% 20.29 $
RBGPF 0% 69.99 $
NGG 1.45% 76.03 $
BCC -0.82% 75.31 $
RYCEF -0.05% 19.29 $
RIO -1.53% 95.79 $
GSK 0.56% 50.29 $
BCE -1.78% 22.5 $
JRI -1.04% 11.5 $
RELX 0.15% 34.27 $
VOD -1.26% 17.46 $
BTI -0.77% 56.09 $
AZN 0.64% 162.89 $
BP -3.48% 45.38 $
United States restrict Pakistan to 159-7 in T20 World Cup
United States restrict Pakistan to 159-7 in T20 World Cup / Photo: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds - AFP

United States restrict Pakistan to 159-7 in T20 World Cup

Pakistan were held to a total of 159-7 in their T20 World Cup opener against the United States in Dallas on Thursday as the co-hosts eyed an upset win.

Text size:

The United States chased down a target of 195 to beat fellow non-Test nation Canada in their first Group A encounter but were now up against a far superior bowling attack.

Nevertheless, the United States could be proud of their efforts in the field against Pakistan given they reduced the 2009 T20 World Cup winners to 26-3 after winning the toss.

Left-arm spinner Nosthush Kenjige, who opened the bowling, took 3-30 -- including two wickets in two balls -- from his maximum four overs and left-arm paceman Saurabh Netravalkar a miserly 2-18.

Pakistan were in dire straits at 26-3 inside five overs before a partnership of 72 between skipper Babar Azam (44) and Shadab Khan (40).

Shadab and Azam Khan fell in successive balls to Kenjige.

Pakistan, runners-up to England at the last T20 World Cup in Australia two years ago, were faltering again at 98-5 before tailender Shaheen Shah Afridi's unbeaten 23 boosted the total.

Earlier, Mohammad Rizwan was superbly caught one-handed at slip by Steven Taylor off Netravalkar before Usman Khan holed out off Kenjige to leave Pakistan 14-2.

W.Moreno--AT