Pakistan stored their hopes of reaching the T20 World Cup Tremendous Eights stage alive with a snug seven-wicket victory over Canada.
Mohammad Rizwan scored a well timed half-century and Babar Azam performed a captain’s knock as Pakistan bounced again from successive defeats to beat Canada on the Nassau County Worldwide Cricket Stadium in Westbury, New York.
Following their shock opening loss to co-hosts USA, and defeat in opposition to rivals India, Pakistan’s match would have been over in the event that they didn’t triumph on the Nassau County Worldwide Cricket Stadium in New York on Tuesday. The 2009 T20 World Cup winners now sit third with two factors after one win in three matches, with Tuesday’s win which means they nonetheless have a shot at ending within the high two in Group A.
Azam gained the toss and put Canada into bat, with opener Aaron Johnson starting the innings with back-to-back boundaries.
The spectacular Johnson (52) waged a lone battle in opposition to Pakistan’s tempo assault. Mohammad Amir (2-13) and Haris Rauf (2-26) led the cost for Pakistan, whereas Shaheen Afridi (1-21) and Naseem Shah (1-24) helped guarantee Canada have been unable to search out rhythm.
Solely three Canadian batters reached double digits and if not for Johnson’s maiden World Cup fifty and a late flurry from Kaleem Sana (13 not out), Canada would have struggled to succeed in the modest complete of 106-7 they posted.
The short-term area in East Meadow, the place India and South Africa defended lower than run-a-ball targets in latest days, regarded on target for an additional aggressive low-scoring match as Saim Ayub (6) fell early and Pakistan regarded shaky at 21-1 after 5 overs.
Skipper Babar steadied the ship, although, mentioning the 50 partnership with opener Rizwan from 49 balls.
Rizwan (53 not out) and Babar (33) took few dangers, the captain taking part in in measured vogue as he hit one six and one 4 earlier than he fell to Dillon Heyliger (2-18), however Pakistan comfortably reached their goal with 15 balls to spare.
Pakistan now know if Eire beat hosts United States on Friday then a win for them over the Irish on Sunday would safe development.
Canada, additionally on two factors, want a win over India on Saturday to remain within the top-two race.
What they mentioned
Pakistan captain Babar Azam…
“Good for us, we [needed] this win. I think all credit to the team because we started well in the bowling.
“To be trustworthy, on this pitch right here, 5 – 6 overs will be very essential as a result of the ball isn’t coming correctly and one tempo. Generally it is low, typically it is double tempo behaviour, however I feel after the sixth over the pitch is a little bit bit settled after which we attacked.
“We are going to [have] the same mindset to win [the next] match, for sure. We can play our best cricket over there (at Central Broward Regional Park Stadium in Florida), [those] conditions are much better than here.
What’s Next?
Two games take place in the early hours of Wednesday June 12, as Sri Lanka also take on Nepal from 12am (midnight) live on Sky Sports Action, followed by Australia vs Namibia live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Cricket from 1am.
Then, on Wednesday afternoon, hosts USA face India live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Cricket from 3pm.
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