In a dazzling display of cricketing prowess, Pakistan defeated Canada by 7 wickets at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, New York, on Tuesday. The win secured the Men in Green their first point in the ongoing T20 World Cup. Opting to bowl first, Pakistan restricted Canada to a meagre 106/7 in 20 overs and chased down the target with 15 balls remaining. Notably, this marks the highest successful run chase at this venue.
Aaron Johnson (52) began the innings with flair, striking consecutive boundaries off Shaheen Shah Afridi. However, he found little support from his fellow batters, as Canada’s wickets tumbled at regular intervals. Pakistani bowlers relentlessly targeted the right areas, dismantling Canada for a paltry total on a challenging Nassau surface. Apart from Johnson, only Saad Bin Zafar (10) and Kaleem Sana (13*) managed to reach double figures, 
Mohammad Amir (2/13) and Haris Rauf (2/26) stood out with the ball for Pakistan, while Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah chipped in with a wicket each.
Saim Ayub (6), replacing Iftikhar Ahmed, failed to make an impact, departing in the fifth over after struggling to score. However, Mohammad Rizwan (53*) and Babar Azam (33) batted with prudence on the tricky pitch, forging a crucial 63-run partnership for the second wicket. With only three runs required for victory, Fakhar Zaman (4) fell attempting a big shot, but Rizwan’s steady hand guided Pakistan to the win.
Dillon Heyliger (2/18) and Jeremy Gordon (1/17) were the only bowlers to claim wickets for Canada.
Key Moments of the Match:
Aaron Johnson’s Courageous Start:
Aaron Johnson and Navneet Dhaliwal opened Canada’s innings with promise. Johnson capitalized on a full toss from Shaheen Afridi, flicking it through mid-wicket for an early boundary. He continued to play aggressively, securing another boundary off a low full toss. Johnson’s approach, unfazed by the bowler’s reputation, was a testament to his resolve.
Mohammad Amir Draws First Blood:
With Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah conceding 16 runs in the first two overs, Babar Azam introduced Mohammad Amir into the attack in the third over. Amir lived up to expectations, delivering a superb final ball in the over that dismantled Navneet Dhaliwal’s (4) middle stump, triggering a collapse.
Aaron Johnson – The Lone Warrior:
Despite the frequent loss of wickets, Aaron Johnson maintained his aggressive stance, hitting 4 fours and 6 sixes to reach fifty. However, his valiant effort ended in the 14th over when Naseem Shah bowled him out.
Mohammad Rizwan’s Composed Knock:
Batting on the difficult Nassau pitch, Rizwan played a composed innings, primarily scoring through singles and doubles. His unbeaten 53, featuring 2 fours and a six, guided Pakistan to victory with 15 balls to spare. Notably, Rizwan’s 52-ball fifty is the slowest in T20 World Cup history, surpassing Miller’s 50-ball fifty against the Netherlands.
The defeat places Canada on the brink of elimination. They must triumph in their final game against India in Florida, on June 15 to keep their tournament hopes alive.
Conversely, Pakistan remains in contention and must maintain their momentum in their last league stage fixture against Ireland at the same venue on June 16. A significant victory is necessary to boost their net run rate, coupled with hopes that the USA loses their remaining matches.
ALSO READ
