T20 World Cup: USA shocks cricket heavyweight Pakistan after forcing super over

United States upsets Pakistan in T20 World Cup super over; Scotland beats Namibia to top Group B.

The United States scored a major upset at the T20 World Cup by beating cricket heavyweight Pakistan in the super over on Thursday.

The U.S. had routed Canada in its opening Group A game, but beating 2022 runner-up Pakistan counts as historic in a country that hardly understands the rules of the game.

Later, Scotland moved atop Group B with a five-wicket win over Namibia later at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados. Namibia made 155-9 and Scotland reached its winning total with nine balls remaining.

Aaron Jones, who smashed a 40-ball unbeaten 94 against Canada, once again starred for the tournament co-host when he stretched the game into super over with another vital knock of 36 not out off 26.

Off successive deliveries, Jones hit a six off Haris Rauf and then a single before Nitish Kumar’s boundary off the final ball tied the score at 159 at the end of regulation as Pakistan's experienced fast bowler gave away 14 runs off the final six balls.

Pakistan panicked in the super over when much experienced fast bowler Mohammad Amir, preferred over Shaheen Shah Afridi, gave away 18 runs that included seven runs off wide balls as Jones smashed a boundary against the left-arm seamer.

Left-arm fast bowler Saurabh Netravalkar, who earlier bowled brilliantly and grabbed 2-18 off his four overs, conceded only 13 runs in the super over to earn the U.S. its most historic Twenty20 win against Pakistan, the 2009 champion.