Pakistan Tune Up for India with Win Against USA
Pakistan's Sahibzada Farhan (right) hit six fours and five sixes in his 73-run innings
Men's T20 World Cup, Group A, Colombo
Pakistan 190-9 (20 overs): Farhan 73 (41); Van Schalkwyk 4-25
USA 158-8 (20 overs): Ranjane 51 (30); Tariq 3-27
Pakistan prepared for the much-anticipated T20 World Cup match against India by securing a 32-run victory over the United States in their second group-stage game.
In the 2024 edition, the USA had achieved a sensational super over win against Pakistan, but this encounter lacked similar drama.
Sahibzada Farhan's impressive innings of 74 runs from 41 balls, complemented by Babar Azam's 48 off 32, set a target of 191 for the USA. However, the USA could not maintain the required run rate during their chase, allowing Pakistan to record their second consecutive win in the tournament.
This victory provides a significant confidence boost for Pakistan ahead of Sunday's crucial match against their arch-rivals and defending champions India. The upcoming contest had been uncertain until the Pakistani government reversed its boycott order.
Pakistan's innings was anchored by Farhan's ninth T20I half-century, while Babar contributed valuable runs amid recent form challenges.
Farhan was dismissed by Harmeet Singh in the 16th over, leaving Pakistan well-positioned at 143-4 entering the final overs.
Shadab Khan added a rapid 30 runs from 12 balls, but Pakistan lost five wickets in the last two overs, finishing on 190-9. USA seamer Shadley van Schalkwyk took 4-25 for the second consecutive game.
USA opener Shayan Jahangir nearly led the chase early on but was dismissed for 49 in the 11th over as the team struggled to keep pace.
Despite having wickets in hand, the USA managed only 29 runs in the six overs following the powerplay. Shubham Ranjane's 51 runs from 30 balls proved insufficient as mystery spinner Usman Tariq claimed three wickets.
Although the USA suffered back-to-back defeats, they can take positives from their performance and will seek their first tournament win against the Netherlands on Friday.
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New Zealand Rout UAE for Second Win
'Brutal batting!' - NZ duo Seifert & Allen hit 175
Men's T20 World Cup, Group D, Chennai
United Arab Emirates 173-6 (20 overs): Waseem 66* (45); Henry 2-37
New Zealand 175-0 (15.2 overs): Seifert 89* (42), Allen 84* (50)
Tim Seifert and Finn Allen delivered a record-breaking opening partnership as New Zealand secured their second win from two matches with a 10-wicket victory over the United Arab Emirates.
The pair led New Zealand to victory with the highest partnership for any wicket in T20 World Cup history, surpassing the previous record of 170 set by England's Jos Buttler and Alex Hales during a 10-wicket win over India in the 2022 semi-final.
Batting first in Chennai, half-centuries from captain Muhammad Waseem and Alishan Sharafu helped the UAE reach 173-6, a total they believed would give them a competitive chance against the 2021 finalists.
However, any hopes of a UAE challenge quickly faded as New Zealand openers Seifert and Allen showcased aggressive hitting, reaching the target with 28 balls remaining.
Seifert, who scored 65 off 42 balls in Sunday's win against Afghanistan, recorded his second consecutive half-century in 23 balls and remained unbeaten on 89. Allen contributed an unbeaten 84 from 50 balls, including five sixes.
Earlier, a 107-run second-wicket partnership between Waseem, unbeaten on 66 from 45 balls, and Sharafu provided the UAE with a strong foundation.
Sharafu, originally from Kerala near Chennai, attacked freely off the off-side for his 55 runs from 47 balls before a brilliant relay catch involving Mark Chapman and Mitch Santner dismissed him.
That wicket stalled the UAE's momentum, but Waseem and Mayank Kumar scored 27 runs off the 18th over from Glenn Phillips to regain some control. Ultimately, their highest T20 World Cup total was insufficient to challenge New Zealand.
New Zealand will next face South Africa in Ahmedabad on Saturday, while the UAE meet Canada in Delhi on Friday.
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De Leede Shines in Netherlands Victory
De Leede stars as Netherlands beat Namibia
Men's T20 World Cup, Group A, Delhi
Namibia 156-8 (20 overs): Loftie-Eaton 42 (38); Van Beek 2-13
Netherlands 159-3 (18 overs): De Leede 72* (48); Scholtz 1-27
Netherlands won by seven wickets
In the day's first match, Bas de Leede excelled with both bat and ball as the Netherlands secured a convincing seven-wicket victory over Namibia.
After a narrow defeat to Pakistan in their tournament opener on Saturday, the Netherlands bounced back strongly in Delhi.
Chasing 157, all-rounder De Leede, who had already taken two important wickets, scored an unbeaten 72 from 48 balls to lead the team to a commanding win.
This marks the Netherlands' largest victory in tournament history, and De Leede became the first Dutch player to score a half-century and take two wickets in the same T20 World Cup match.
Batting first, Namibia reached 60-1 in nine overs before Logan van Beek dismissed Jan Frylinck, who scored 30 off 26 balls.
Namibia's momentum was further disrupted by De Leede, who dismissed captain Gerhard Erasmus and JJ Smit for 18 and 22 runs respectively. Nicol Loftie-Eaton fell to Van Beek after scoring 42 off 38 balls as Namibia posted 156-8.
After losing opener Max O'Dowd early, a 70-run third-wicket partnership between De Leede and Colin Ackerman stabilized the Netherlands' chase. De Leede struck five fours and four sixes to secure victory over Namibia, who will next face defending champions and co-hosts India on Thursday.
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