Pakistan’s T20 World Cup campaign received a much-needed shot in the arm on Tuesday, as they secured a narrow seven-wicket victory over a spirited Canadians at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York.
Chasing a seemingly modest target of 107 runs, Pakistan’s batting display exposed some vulnerabilities. The Canadian bowling attack, spearheaded by the impressive Dilon Heyliger, exploited a two-paced pitch to trouble the Pakistani batsmen. Heyliger’s nagging pace and cutters caused problems, extracting early wickets from the dangerous Fakhar Zaman and skipper Babar Azam.
However, the experienced Mohammad Rizwan stood firm at the crease, anchoring the chase with a well-constructed 53 runs. Rizwan displayed his temperament, navigating the tricky conditions and stitching together crucial partnerships with Imam-ul-Haq (18) and Mohammad Hafeez (26). While Rizwan fell short of a half-century, his knock proved invaluable in laying the foundation for the win.
Originally, the decision made by Pakistan to field seemed justified when their fast bowlers took wickets early in the game. Mohammad Amir, who is experienced with both bowling types (swing) and provided shocking deliveries which caused panic in Canada’s top batsmen by sending off its first two batsmen for nothing in the opening overs. In between these overs, Hairs Rauf had a great game: he stepped in brilliantly to support Amir by taking two important wickets at crucial times in the match.
Canada’s batting innings revolved around a lone warrior – Aaron Johnson. The left-hander played a defiant knock of 52 runs, displaying superb shot selection and grit to hold the innings together. Johnson found valuable support from Rizwan Cheema (17) in a brief partnership that helped Canada reach a defendable total. However, Pakistan’s experienced spin duo of Shadab Khan and Imad Wasim tightened the screws in the middle overs, stifling the Canadian run flow and restricting them to 106 runs.
Pakistan’s chase, though, wasn’t a walk in the park. The loss of wickets at regular intervals kept the Canadians in the contest. Hafeez’s dismissal with just under 40 runs added a layer of tension. However, the lower middle order, with Asif Ali (12*) and Shaheen Afridi (8*), ensured they crossed the finish line with 2.3 overs to spare.
This triumph enables Pakistan to stay in the running for the Super 12 phase. The remaining games must be won by Pakistan to reignite the positive hope. Canada, however, leaves the competition with successive losses.
