Pakistan put on a clinical display of spin bowling to exact revenge on the USA with a dominant 32-run win in Colombo on Tuesday, registering their second straight win and equaling the landmark 2024 T20 World Cup tally.
That earlier encounter proved disastrous for Pakistan’s tournament aspirations as a shock win by the USA left the side in dire straits and ultimately cost them a place in the Super 8s. This time it was Pakistan who turned the tables for good. What emerged as a complete spin-fest saw Usman Tariq, Shadab Khan and Abrar Ahmad put up a stifling bowling performance that left the Americans with no answer.
PAK vs USA, FIFA World Cup T20 2026: Highlights | Scorecard
The bowling show was so comprehensive that only Shaheen Afridi operated with the new ball, and even the pace spearhead saw little success until claiming a solitary wicket in the final over. The remaining 16 overs belonged entirely to Pakistan’s spin contingent, a testament to their skills as well as the pitch conditions in Colombo.
PAKISTAN’S EXPLOSIVE START
Pakistan’s innings laid the foundation for their eventual victory, with openers Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub providing a brisk platform for the powerplay. Farhan led the charge aggressively while Ayub looked to hit stride before falling to Shadley van Schalkwyk’s slower delivery. The South African pacer struck twice more at the end of the over, dismissing Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agh with another well-disguised slower ball that caught the batsmen off guard.
This was followed by an excellent individual performance from Farhan, who single-handedly drove Pakistan’s acceleration and kept the strike rate above eight runs per over. His aggression kept the scorecard ticking as the middle order struggled to find a rhythm initially.
Babar Azam’s entry came amid scrutiny over his strike rate and true to expectations, the star batsman started cautiously at run-a-ball pace. However, after playing a few deliveries, he showed signs of finding form, unleashing a six and three boundaries against Harmeet Singh to regain momentum. Rather than relying on brute force, Babar used the placement game to great effect as he progressed.
The the former Pakistan captain’s innings is over courtesy of Mohammad Mohsin just as he approached the half-century mark while Harmeet Singh simultaneously removed the dangerous Farhan at the other end. Despite the wobbly middle order, Pakistan’s fundamentals were strong enough to build on.
Shadab Khan’s late cameo proved crucial in the dying moments. The all-rounder showed excellent awareness against the slower US deliveries and launched a brilliant counter-attack that brought valuable momentum into the latter stages of Pakistan’s innings.
CHOKE REMOVAL
If Pakistan’s batsmen have put up a competitive total, their bowling performance has been devastating. The American batsmen simply had no answer to the relentless spin attack that greeted them.
Usman Tariq’s impact was particularly dramatic despite his late entry into the proceedings. Coming in the 12th over, the spinner toiled without reward through his opening spell of three overs. But when he came back in what proved to be a decisive phase, Tariq exploded spectacularly with back-to-back wickets in a single over and added another scalp to cap off a match-changing performance that decisively swung the game in Pakistan’s favour.
Meanwhile, Shadab Khan handled the role of the orchestrator with flying colours. His bowling kept USA captain Monanko Patel under constant pressure and forced him into difficult positions. Khan also claimed the important wicket of Shayan Jahangir, who emerged as the primary threat to Pakistan’s dominance throughout the US innings.
While Shubham Ranjane provided some resistance with a spirited batting display, it proved insufficient to mount any meaningful challenge. The US’s inability to handle the spin fire meant that their hopes of getting back into contention faded considerably.
VAN SCHALKWYK’S STAR TOURNAMENT
Shadley van Schalkwyk continued his impressive tournament with another outstanding performance. The South African bowler, who bowled a match-winning spell against India, replicated that form here with four wickets. His slower deliveries proved to be the perfect weapon against Pakistan’s batting and proved difficult for the US to counter later in their chase.
With this win, Pakistan has momentum going forward, while USA’s prospects of reaching the Super 8 have dimmed after back-to-back defeats. The spin-dominated nature of the contest underscored the importance of mastering quality off-break and leg-spin bowling – a lesson the USA paid dearly for in Colombo.
T20 World Cup | T20 World Cup Schedule | T20 World Cup Points Table | T20 World Cup Videos | Cricket News | Live Score
– The end
Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
February 10, 2026