USA’s batting faltered once again as Pakistan’s spin-heavy approach proved decisive in their T20 World Cup 2026 Group ‘A’ clash at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) in Colombo on Tuesday.
Pakistan’s spinners, led by Usman Tariq’s three-wicket haul and Shadab Khan’s two for 26 – after his earlier 12-ball 30 with the bat – combined to defend a 191-run target by 32 runs, giving the side its second straight win.
Pakistan operated with just one specialist fast bowler in Shaheen Afridi, entrusting the remaining 16 overs to spin. The move paid off handsomely as the spinners claimed seven of the eight wickets to fall, as the USA only managed 158 in its failed pursuit.
Bowling under lights, Pakistan’s tweakers were willing to toss the ball up and vary their pace, using flatter trajectories when required. Their willingness to attack the stumps and challenge the batters was rewarded, with the unit conceding under seven runs an over and forcing false strokes at regular intervals.
For the USA, only Shayan Jahangir (49) and Shubham Ranjane (51) found the middle of the bat consistently. Jahangir’s innings at the top laid the platform for the chase before he was caught at long off off Shadab while attempting a third maximum.
Ranjane’s knock was more of a solo effort, as he watched the rest of the lineup return to the dugout regularly while he struck three fours and as many sixes. He was eventually trapped in front by Afridi – Pakistan’s only pace wicket – as the spinners tightened their grip to close out a comfortable victory.
Earlier, Pakistan’s top order feasted on indiscipline to power the side to 190 for nine after being put in to bat.
Saim Ayub set the tone early, skipping down the track to launch Saurabh Netravalkar for a six in the opening over, forcing the wicketkeeper to come up immediately. It did little to curb the openers’ intent as the USA’s bowlers struggled to settle on a consistent length.
Sahibzada Farhan repeatedly accessed the off side, slashing and punching back-of-a-length deliveries for boundaries, while half-trackers disappeared over the leg side and fuller balls were slogged straight down the ground.
The momentum stalled briefly in the sixth over when Shadley van Schalkwyk rolled his fingers over the ball, drawing Ayub into a slash to short third. Salman Ali Agha followed soon after, pulling straight to deep square leg off the final ball of the PowerPlay.
Farhan, unfazed, continued to attack the leg-spin of Mohammad Mohsin and the left-arm spin of Harmeet Singh, slog-sweeping with ease. His fifty came off just 27 balls, underlining Pakistan’s dominance through the first half of the innings.
Babar Azam, by contrast, began quietly. His first boundary came off his 19th delivery, a pulled six off Harmeet, before the gears shifted. Pulls, cuts and back-foot drives followed in quick succession, while Farhan continued to find the fence regularly. The pair ensured Pakistan scored at close to nine an over.
Mohammad Mohsin eventually broke the 81-run stand as Babar mistimed a pull to long on for 46 off 32. Farhan fell soon after, caught at long off while attempting another slog, ending a brisk 73 off 41 balls. Their dismissals triggered a dramatic collapse.
The USA bowlers leaned heavily on cutters at the death, and the change of pace worked. Shadab provided a brief counterpunch with a 12-ball 30, but Pakistan managed just 57 for seven in the final six overs – a stark contrast to the ease with which runs came earlier. Still, the start given by the top order ensured the total remained imposing till the end.
The scores:
Pakistan 190/9 in 20 overs (Sahibzada Farhan 73, Babar Azam 46, Shadab Khan 30, Shadley van Schalkwyk 4/25) bt USA 158/8 in 20 overs (Shayan Jahangir 49, Shubham Ranjane 51, Usman Tariq 3/27).
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