Tag: T20 World Cup 2024

Bangladesh invited Sri Lanka to bat and picked two wickets in the powerplay, however, Pathum Nissanka remained firm on his end.

Nissanka scored 47 runs during his 28-ball stay with the help of seven boundaries and one six before Mustafizur Rahman dismissed him to reduce Sri Lanka to 70-3.

Bangladesh took control and made it difficult for Sri Lankan batters to score runs as Dhananjaya de Silva and Charith Asalanka managed 30 runs from 32 balls for the fourth wicket.

Young legspinner Rishad Hossain dismissed Asalanka (19) and incoming batter Wanindu Hasaranga on back-to-back balls to break Sri Lanka’s momentum.

Dhananjaya de Silva (21) also fell prey to Hossain in the next over leaving Sri Lanka reeling at 109-6.

Angelo Mathews added a valuable 16 runs from 19 balls to push Sri Lanka’s total to 124-9 in their allocated 20 overs.

Bangladesh’s Rishad Hossain and Mustafizur Rahman picked three wickets each. Taskin Ahmed contributed with two wickets.

READ: South Africa hold Nigeria for draw in FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier

GUYANA: Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s blistering knock, followed by a brilliant bowling performance helped Afghanistan register a stunning upset victory over New Zealand in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 at Providence Stadium here on Friday.

Set to chase 160, New Zealand bundled out for a meagre 75 in 15.2 overs, with only two batters reaching the double figures.

Fazalhaq Farooqi wreaked havoc with the new ball as he bowled Finn Allen on the first ball of the innings, followed by two more wickets in his next two overs to reduce the Kiwi side to 28-3 in 4.2 overs.

Skipper Rashid Khan replaced Farooqi and carried the momentum, dismissing his counterpart Kane Williamson. In his next over, Khan picked back-to-back wickets of Mark Chapman and Michael Bracewell, further breaking the Kiwi’s back.

Glenn Phillips top-scored for New Zealand with a run-a-ball 18. Meanwhile, Matt Henry played a 12-run cameo before falling prey to Farooqi to finish the game.

Farooqi and Khan picked four wickets each, whereas Mohammad Nabi claimed two.

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Earlier, Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran gave Afghanistan a decent start after being invited to bat, scoring 44 runs in the powerplay. However, New Zealand bowlers slowed them down after the field restrictions were lifted.

Afghanistan managed 11 runs in the next overs before switching gears in the 11th over, which was bowled by Michael Bracewell. Gurbaz and Zadran collected 21 runs from this over, including three sixes.

Gurbaz attacked the bowlers, while Zadran played more of a supporting act before Matt Henry broke the 103-run opening pair in the 15th over.

Zadran departed after scoring 44 off 41 with the help of five boundaries, including two sixes.

Azmatullah Omarzai joined Gurbaz and scored a quick 22 off 13 with two sixes before Henry sent him back to the pavilion.

Gurbaz continued to attack before Trent Boult castled him in the final over after he scored 80 runs from 56 balls with the help of five boundaries and as many sixes.

Boult bowled a brilliant last over giving away only three runs and picked two wickets restricting Afghanistan to 159-6. He and Henry both claimed two wickets each while Lockie Ferguson managed one.

READ: South Africa hold Nigeria for draw in FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier

DALLAS: Bangladesh have won the toss and chose to field first against Sri Lanka in the 15th match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 at Grand Prairie Stadium here on Friday.

Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Kamindu Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Angelo Mathews, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga (c), Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana, Nuwan Thushara

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Bangladesh: Tanzid Hasan, Soumya Sarkar, Litton Das, Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Towhid Hridoy, Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmudullah, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Tanzim Hasan Sakib

READ: Carlos Alcaraz outduels Jack Sinner to reach French Open final

GUYANA: New Zealand have won the toss and chose to field first against Afghanistan in the 14th match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 at Providence Stadium here on Friday.

Playing XIs

NEW YORK: A gutsy fifth-wicket partnership between Nicholas Kirton and Shreyas Movva, followed by a tight bowling display led Canada to upset Ireland in the 13th match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 here at Nassau County International Stadium on Saturday.

Set to chase a modest 138 on a tricky surface, Ireland could only manage 125 for the loss in the allotted 20 overs despite a fighting 62-run partnership between Mark Adair and George Dockrell.

Ireland had a cautious start to their innings as their openers Paul Stirling and Andy Balbirnie struggled to score freely against a disciplined Canadian bowling.

Canada soon got the reward of the early domination as Jeremy Gordon got Stirling caught behind in the sixth over with just 26 runs on the board. Stirling scored just nine off 17 deliveries.

Ireland then lost five more wickets at regular intervals and were consequently reduced to 59/6 in 12.3 overs.

It appeared all over for the European side as they needed 79 runs off just 45 balls with four wickets in hand but Adair and Dockrell glimmered a ray of hope for Ireland fans with a fighting partnership.

The duo brought Ireland in touching distance as they needed 17 off the final over.

However, Mark Adair played out a dot on the first delivery and perished on the second as Canada regained control. Adair top-scored for Ireland with a 24-ball 34 which featured three fours and a six.

Ireland only managed four runs on the last four deliveries, paving the way for Canada to taste their first-ever victory in T20 World Cups.

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Put into bat first, Canada managed to register a decent total on the board despite a disastrous start to their innings.

The associate nation, after a dismal start, lost wickets at regular intervals and consequently slipped to 53/4 in 8.1 overs.

Following the debacle, wicketkeeper batter Movva joined Kirton in the middle and the duo combined to launch recovery.

Movva and Kirton batted sensibly under pressure and added 75 runs for the fifth wicket to pull Canada out of trouble.

Nicholas Kirton, however, had an agonizing end to his gutsy knock in the penultimate over as he fell just one run short of his well-deserved half-century. He remained the top-scorer for Canada with a 35-ball 49 with the help of three fours and two sixes.

Movva, on the other hand, got run out on the final delivery after scoring 37 off 36 deliveries, hitting three fours.

Barry McCarthy and Craig Young bagged two wickets each while Mark Adair and Gareth Delany chipped in with a wicket apiece.

It is worth mentioning here that Ireland are at the bottom of Group A of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 while Canada are placed fourth as both teams sustained defeats in their respective campaign openers.

PLAYING XIs

Ireland: Paul Stirling (c), Andy Balbirnie, Lorcan Tucker, Harry Tector, Curtis Campher, George Dockrell, Gareth Delany, Mark Adair, Barry McCarthy, Josh Little, Craig Young.

Canada: Aaron Johnson, Navneet Dhaliwal, Pargat Singh, Nicholas Kirton, Shreyas Movva (wk), Dilpreet Bajwa, Saad Bin Zafar (c), Junaid Siddiqui, Dilon Heyliger, Kaleem Sana, Jeremy Gordon.

READ: Canada captain takes a dig at Pakistan over shock USA defeat

Canada’s captain Saad Bin Zafar took a dig at the Pakistan team following their shocking defeat in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 campaign opener against co-host United States of America (USA).

Pakistan-based cricketer Saad, who has been given the leadership role of the inexperienced Canadian side, stated that he aims to do against Ireland what the USA did to Pakistan.

“We would’ve bowled first as well. If we can put decent runs on the board, will not be easy to change. It’s always good to see an associate country to beat a full member country,” stated Saad Bin Zafar at the toss against Ireland.

“Hopefully what USA did to Pakistan, we can do to Ireland. If you play your A game on the day, you can beat anyone,” he added.

The Pakistan men’s cricket team on Thursday, stooped to a new low as the former champions succumbed to an upset five-run defeat against the USA after an enthralling match which was decided in the Super Over.

Pakistan captain Babar Azam entrusted senior pacer Mohammad Amir to bowl the Super Over. However, the left-arm pacer struggled to maintain his line and length and went on to concede 18 runs.

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Amir bowled three wides in the over while poor fielding and overthrows saw the Green Shirts leaking away more runs.

Set to chase 19 in the one-over eliminator, Iftikhar Ahmed and Fakhar Zaman came out to bat for Pakistan while Saurabh Netravalkar was given the ball for the USA.

The right-handed batter played out a dot on the first delivery but hit Netravalkar for a four on the next delivery.

The boundary put the left-arm pacer under immense pressure as he bowled a wide on the next delivery. However, Netravalkar was soon to recollect himself and dismissed Iftikhar Ahmed on the next delivery.

Pakistan then needed 14 off the last three deliveries and Netravalkar displayed nerves of steel to defend the total for the USA and steered the associate nation to a historic victory.

READ: Wasim Akram lambasts Pakistan over “pathetic performance” against USA

NEW YORK: Ireland have won the toss and elected to field first against Canada in the 13th match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 here on Friday.

PLAYING XIs

Ireland: Paul Stirling (c), Andy Balbirnie, Lorcan Tucker, Harry Tector, Curtis Campher, George Dockrell, Gareth Delany, Mark Adair, Barry McCarthy, Josh Little, Craig Young.

READ: Wasim Akram unhappy with Pakistan after “pathetic performance” against USA

More to follow…

DALLAS: Legendary pacer Wasim Akram termed Pakistan’s performance “pathetic” as they succumbed to a shock loss in their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 campaign opener against the United States of America (USA) on Thursday.

Akram, while speaking to an Indian channel, did not mince his words in criticising the national team’s performance before praising the associate nation for playing well in tense situations.

“Pathetic performance. They were playing against the USA. I was confident, that Pakistani supporters were confident that they would win but credit to the USA for the way they played their cricket,” stated Akram.

“The first innings, the second innings when they came out to chase and then of course the Super Over. I mean 19 runs in Super Overs is like getting 36 runs in an over. So well done USA,” he added.

Akram also predicted that the Babar Azam-led Pakistan would struggle to qualify for the Super 8s, given the current situation of Group A.

“Pakistan will struggle from here onwards to qualify for the Super 8s because they have to play India and two other good teams too.”

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Wasim Akram also highlighted the turning point of the match before pointing out the errors, the national team made.

“I think turning point of the game… was the way they got early wickets. They had one little partnership between Shadab and Babar and then nobody looked comfortable. The fielding was average, overall cricket was very average by Pakistan.

“Winning and losing is a part of it, we all know it but till the last ball, show some fight, put some dives. Catches are being dropped, wickets are tough to get. So yeah, it was a bad day for Pakistan I suppose,” Akram concluded.

Former champions Pakistan had a disastrous start to their T20 World Cup 2024 campaign as they endured a shock loss against the USA in the Super Over as they failed to chase down the 19-run target.

Senior pacer Mohammad Amir bowled the Super Over for Pakistan and conceded 18 runs. In response, the Green Shirts only managed 13/1.

READ: Former cricketers lash out at Pakistan after shock loss against USA

Legendary Pakistan cricketers Inzamam-ul-Haq, Waqar Younis and Shahid Afridi lashed out at the national team following their upset defeat against the United States of America (USA) in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.

Pakistan endured a five-run defeat against the co-hosts in the Super Over as they failed to chase down the 19-run target.

Senior pacer Mohammad Amir bowled the Super Over for Pakistan and conceded 18 runs. In response, the Green Shirts only managed 13/1.

Reacting to the defeat on his YouTube channel, former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq stated the team is heading towards a “downfall”.

“Babar Azam and company should sit down and think about the kind of cricket they are playing. But, looking at our cricket and selection, I think our cricket is headed towards downfall,” the former right-hander said.

Legendary all-rounder Shahid Afridi, on the other hand, raised questions over the team’s strategies in crucial situations.

“They made a huge mistake by opting for Iftikhar instead of Fakhar to play the first ball of the super over. The left-arm fast bowler would have suited Fakhar because of the angle of the bowling. I don’t know who told Iftikhar to face the left-armer,” Afridi said on his YouTube channel.

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Afridi also questioned Mohammad Amir’s performance in the Super Over.

“Mohammad Amir bowled really well during the match and I thought that they will go with in the super over as well. But he conceded a lot of extras in the super over which also didn’t help Pakistan’s cause,” stated Afridi.

“He is experienced and knows how to bowl yorkers. The ball was reversing as well which is why I think he shouldn’t have given away so many runs,” he added.

On the other hand, legendary pacer Waqar Younis termed the USA’s victory over Pakistan historic and asserted that the national team looked “helpless”.

“USA grounded Pakistan in their opening game. History’s been registered. Pakistan looked exhausted and helpless in the field. Congrats USA for a thumping victory,” Waqar tweeted.

READ: Babar Azam highlights shortcomings after Pakistan’s shock loss against USA

DALLAS: Pakistan’s white-ball captain Babar Azam opened up after Pakistan’s upset defeat against the United States of America (USA) in the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.

Pakistan endured a five-run defeat against the co-hosts in the Super Over as they failed to chase down the 19-run target.

Senior pacer Mohammad Amir bowled the Super Over for Pakistan and conceded 18 runs. In response, the Green Shirts only managed 13/1.

Speaking after his side’s shocking defeat, Pakistan captain Babar Azam asserted that the team lacked intent in the batting powerplay.

“In the first six overs, we didn’t capitalise. Back-to-back wickets always put you on the back foot, as a batter you need to step up and build partnerships,” stated Babar.

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The Pakistan captain also blamed the spinners for providing the team breakthroughs in the middle overs.

“We were not up to the mark in the first 6 overs with the ball. Our spinners also did not take wickets in the middle overs so these things cost us,” he added.

“All credit to the USA, they played better than us in all three departments. Little bit of moisture in the pitch, it was also two-paced. As a professional you need to assess the conditions,” he concluded.

The narrow victory left Pakistan in a tough situation as the former champions now need to win all their remaining group-stage fixtures to qualify for the Super 8s.

Pakistan next face arch-rivals India at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York on June 9.

Pakistan squad for T20 World Cup 2024

Babar Azam (c), Abrar Ahmed, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan, Usman Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Azam Khan, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Amir, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub.

READ: Spirited USA upset Pakistan to claim historic victory in Super Over