Farhan and Tariq steer Pakistan past USA to avenge T20 World Cup upset

Pakistan overpowered the United States by 32 runs in a T20 World Cup Group A match in Colombo on Tuesday, avenging a shock defeat from two years ago and consolidating a strong start to their campaign.

Sahibzada Farhan set the tone with a forceful 73 off 41 balls, striking five sixes and six fours to anchor Pakistan’s 190 for nine at the Sinhalese Sports Club ground. He shared an 81-run third-wicket stand with Babar Azam, whose 46 off 32 balls (four fours, one six) helped Pakistan cut loose through the middle overs. Shadab Khan added a brisk 30 off 12 late on as Pakistan eyed a total beyond 200 before a late wobble saw five wickets tumble for 13 runs across the final two overs.

Earlier, Farhan and Saim Ayub put on 54 in the first five overs, Ayub contributing 19 off 17 with two sixes. The momentum briefly shifted in the sixth over when Shadley van Schalkwyk removed Ayub with a slower ball and then had captain Salman Agha caught on the deep square-leg boundary for one. Farhan steadied the innings alongside Azam, passing 1,000 T20 international runs in his 41st match before falling in the 16th over, caught in the covers off spinner Harmeet Singh. Van Schalkwyk finished as the pick of the USA bowlers with four for 25, backing up a four-wicket haul in their previous outing against India.

USA’s chase was kept in check by Pakistan’s spinners after a promising start. Opener Shayan Jahangir muscled 49 off 34 balls with two sixes and five fours, while Milind Kumar added 29 as the Americans reached 123 for three and stayed within sight of the target. Shubham Ranjane then top-scored with a counterattacking 51 off 30 (three sixes, three fours), but his dismissal to Shaheen Shah Afridi—who was playing his 100th T20 international—sparked a slide that ended at 158 for eight.

Usman Tariq led Pakistan’s squeeze with three for 27, and Shadab Khan backed him with two for 26. Their combined control through the middle overs blunted USA’s attempt to build a decisive finishing platform.

The result delivered Pakistan a measure of payback for their loss to the USA in the previous edition of the tournament and made it two wins from two matches following a tight, three-wicket victory over the Netherlands on Saturday. For the USA, van Schalkwyk’s incisive new-ball spell and Ranjane’s late surge highlighted pockets of progress, but the innings faltered once Pakistan’s spinners took hold and the set batters departed.