Pakistan delivered a commanding performance at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, defeating the United States by 32 runs in their Group A encounter of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Anchored by a blistering half-century from Sahibzada Farhan and a disciplined masterclass from their spin quartet, Pakistan successfully defended a target of 191, avenging their historical upset defeat to the same opponents in the 2024 edition.
Farhan Leads the Charge After Early Ripples
After being asked to bat first by USA captain Monank Patel, Pakistan’s openers looked to impose themselves immediately. Sahibzada Farhan was the protagonist of the first innings, showcasing an array of aggressive strokes to dismantle the American powerplay strategy. Alongside Saim Ayub, Farhan added 54 runs for the first wicket in just five overs.
However, USA’s Shadley van Schalkwyk briefly threatened to derail the momentum. In a double-strike during the sixth over, van Schalkwyk removed Ayub (19 off 17) and followed it up by dismissing the promoted Salman Ali Agha for just 1. The quick wickets left Pakistan momentarily staggered at 56/2.
Stability returned through a crucial 81-run partnership between Farhan and former captain Babar Azam. Farhan reached a 27-ball fifty and eventually finished with a magnificent 73 off 41 deliveries, including six boundaries and five towering sixes. Babar provided the perfect foil, rotating strike effectively and contributing a steady 46 off 32 balls. Despite a late-innings wobble where Pakistan lost five wickets for just 13 runs—slipping from 177/4 to 190/9—a cameo of 30 from 12 balls by Shadab Khan ensured the total remained formidable. Shadley van Schalkwyk was the pick of the bowlers for the USA, finishing with exceptional figures of 4 for 25.
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Spin Quartet Stifles the American Chase
The United States began their pursuit of 191 with genuine intent. Openers Shayan Jahangir and Andries Gous took the attack to the lone frontline seamer, Shaheen Shah Afridi, reaching 42 without loss in the first five overs. The momentum shifted decisively when Mohammad Nawaz was introduced; he claimed the wicket of Gous (13) with his fifth delivery, caught by Salman Agha.
The introduction of Pakistan’s slower bowlers turned the game into a war of attrition that the USA could not win. Shadab Khan removed both Monank Patel (3) and the dangerous Jahangir, who fell just one run short of a half-century on 49. As the required run rate climbed toward 12 an over, debutant Usman Tariq dismantled the middle order. Tariq’s unique action and variations proved too much for the American batters, as he claimed 3 for 27, including two wickets in two balls during the 19th over.
Late Resistance Falls Short
Amidst the tumbling wickets, Shubham Ranjane played a lone hand of resistance. Ranjane struck a valiant 51 off 30 balls, treating the Colombo crowd to three sixes and keeping a slim hope alive for the American fans. His efforts, however, were more about personal milestone than match-winning impact, as he lacked support from the other end.
Shaheen Afridi, who had been expensive in his earlier spells, returned to bowl the final over with 39 runs required. He finally found his rhythm, nailing a yorker to trap Ranjane LBW and end the American resistance. The USA finished their 20 overs at 158/8, falling 32 runs short.
Post-Match Reflections and Tournament Outlook
Sahibzada Farhan was named Player of the Match for his decisive 73. Speaking at the presentation, Farhan noted that a successful session in the nets the previous day had given him the confidence to “middle everything” during the game.
With this victory, Pakistan moves to the top of Group A with two wins from two matches, placing them in a strong position for Super 8 qualification. For the USA, the defeat highlights a recurring struggle to maintain momentum against high-quality spin through the middle overs, a concern captain Monank Patel acknowledged must be addressed before their upcoming fixtures. Pakistan now turns its attention to a high-stakes clash against India, while the USA prepares to keep their tournament hopes alive against Namibia.
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