Sahibzada Farhan smashes 73 runs to seal Pakistan victory

Pakistan secured a convincing 32-run victory over the United States of America in the 12th match of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026. Played at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo, the match saw the Green Shirts defend a strong total to claim valuable points in Group A.

Pakistan Sets a Strong Target

Batting first after losing the toss, Pakistan posted a competitive total of 190 for 9 in their 20 overs. Openers Saim Ayub and Sahibzada Farhan gave the team a steady start, adding 50 runs for the first wicket. However, it was Sahibzada Farhan who stole the show. He played a brilliant knock of 73 runs off just 41 balls, hitting six boundaries and five sixes.

Star batter Babar Azam supported the innings with a composed 46 off 32 balls. Despite a late flurry of wickets, Pakistan managed to set a challenging target of 191. For the USA, bowler Shadley van Schalkwyk was impressive, claiming 4 wickets for 25 runs.

USA Fights Hard but Falls Short

Chasing 191, the USA team struggled early against Pakistan's bowling attack. They lost wickets at regular intervals, which kept the required run rate climbing. Shayan Jahangir offered some resistance with a solid 49 runs, while Shubham Ranjane fought bravely with a quickfire 51 off 30 balls.

However, the Pakistan bowlers proved too disciplined. Usman Tariq was the pick of the bowlers, taking 3 wickets for 27 runs, while Shadab Khan chipped in with 2 vital breakthroughs. The USA innings eventually ended at 158 for 8, handing Pakistan a comfortable win.

This victory boosts Pakistan's confidence as they move forward in the Pakistan vs USA rivalry within the tournament, while the USA will look to bounce back in their next game.

Image Source: ESPN