Pakistan set a 191-run target for the United States of America (USA) with Sahibzada Farhan’s fifty and Babar Azam’s aggressive hitting in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 clash at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo, on Tuesday.
Farhan made 73 runs off 41 balls and Babar scored 36 off 42 after the loss of two quick wickets.
Later a 12-ball 30 runs cameo from Shadab Khan lifted Pakistan’s total to 190-9 as Pakistan lost five wickets for 13 runs in space of 15 balls.
Pakistan got off to a strong start to their innings as their opening pair of Farhan and Saim Ayub yielded a brisk 54 runs in five overs.
Shadley van Schalkwyk forced USA’s comeback in the final over of the batting powerplay, during which he struck twice, dismissing left-handed opener Ayub and Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha as the former champions slipped to 56/2.
Ayub made a 17-ball 19 with the help of two sixes and a four, while Agha made just one of three deliveries.
Following the back-to-back dismissals, star batter Babar Azam joined opener Farhan in the middle, and the duo batted fluently to stabilise the innings with a platform-setting 81-run partnership for the third wicket.
The stand eventually culminated on the fourth delivery of the 15th over when Mohammad Mohsin sent back Babar, who made a brisk 46 off 32 deliveries, laced with four fours and a six.
Pakistan then suffered another major setback in the next over when Harmeet Singh dismissed their batting mainstay Farhan, who remained the top-scorer with a blazing 73 off just 41 deliveries, studded with six fours and five sixes.
Shadab Khan then shared a one-sided 34-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Mohammad Nawaz, which came off just 16 deliveries.
Shadab contributed to the stand with a 12-ball 30, comprising four fours and a six, before falling victim to van Schalkwyk in the penultimate over, during which the right-arm pacer also dismissed Faheem Ashraf (one).
Nawaz, on the other hand, perished on the first delivery of the final over as he smashed a fuller delivery from Saurabh Netravalkar straight to Shayan Jahangir, stationed at deep midwicket, and walked back after scoring a scratchy five off 10 deliveries.
Shadley van Schalkwyk was the standout bowler for USA, taking four wickets for just 25 runs in his four overs, while Netravalkar, Mohsin and Harmeet picked up one apiece.
