Farhan’s Fiery 73, Disciplined Bowling Hand Pakistan 32-Run Win Over USA

Colombo, Feb 2026 : A blistering knock from opener Sahibzada Farhan, followed by a controlled and incisive bowling performance, powered Pakistan to a convincing 32-run victory over the USA in their Group A encounter of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup at the Sinhalese Sports Club here on Tuesday. The win not only strengthened Pakistan’s position in the group but also helped them avenge their shock defeat against the USA in the 2024 edition of the tournament.

Asked to bat first, Pakistan posted a competitive 190 for 9 in their allotted 20 overs, riding on Farhan’s explosive start at the top and a vital partnership with captain Babar Azam. In reply, the USA showed flashes of resistance but ultimately fell short, finishing on 158 for 8 despite fighting half-centuries from Shubham Ranjane and Shayan Jahangir.

Pakistan’s innings got off to a brisk start with openers Saim Ayub and Farhan setting the tempo early. The pair added 54 runs for the first wicket, putting the USA bowlers under pressure inside the powerplay. Ayub played a supporting role, scoring a lively 19 before being dismissed, but Farhan quickly took control of proceedings with his fearless strokeplay.

Farhan was at his destructive best, striking the ball cleanly and finding the boundaries with ease. The left-hander smashed 73 runs off just 41 deliveries, an innings laced with six fours and five towering sixes. His aggressive intent ensured Pakistan maintained a strong run rate, laying the foundation for a big total.

After the early dismissal of Salman Agha, Pakistan suffered a brief wobble, but Farhan found stability in the company of skipper Babar Azam. The duo stitched together a crucial 81-run partnership for the third wicket, guiding Pakistan through the middle overs. While Farhan continued to dominate the bowlers, Babar played the anchor role effectively, scoring a composed 46 off 32 balls. His ability to rotate the strike and punish loose deliveries complemented Farhan’s aggression perfectly.

The innings, however, lost momentum towards the end as wickets fell in quick succession. Mohammad Nawaz and Faheem Ashraf failed to make an impact, while run-outs ended the contributions of Usman Khan and Abrar Ahmed. Just when Pakistan appeared in danger of falling short of a strong finish, Shadab Khan provided the late spark with a quickfire cameo. His 30 off just 12 balls, struck at a strike rate of 250, pushed Pakistan close to the 200-run mark and proved crucial in the context of the match.

For the USA, Shadley van Schalkwyk stood out with the ball, returning impressive figures of 4 for 25. He consistently broke partnerships and prevented Pakistan from completely running away with the game. Mohammad Mohsin, Saurabh Netravalkar and Harmeet Singh chipped in with a wicket each, but the damage inflicted earlier in the innings proved difficult to undo.

Chasing a stiff target of 191, the USA began with intent but struggled to maintain consistency against Pakistan’s varied bowling attack. Andries Gous was dismissed early, while captain Monank Patel failed to get going. Shayan Jahangir emerged as the mainstay of the chase, playing a fluent knock of 49 off 34 balls. He added a useful partnership with Milind Kumar, who contributed 29, briefly keeping the USA in the hunt.

The turning point came during the middle overs, as Pakistan tightened the screws with disciplined bowling. Shadab Khan struck twice, while Usman Tariq’s impressive spell yielded three wickets, derailing the USA chase. Shaheen Afridi and Mohammad Nawaz also chipped in with timely breakthroughs, ensuring the required run rate continued to climb.

Shubham Ranjane’s counter-attacking 51 off 30 balls provided late resistance and entertained the crowd, but with wickets falling at regular intervals, the task proved too tall. The USA eventually closed on 158 for 8, falling short by 32 runs as Pakistan sealed a comprehensive and well-rounded victory.

Brief scores:
Pakistan 190/9 in 20 overs (Sahibzada Farhan 73, Babar Azam 46, Shadab Khan 30; Shadley van Schalkwyk 4/25) beat USA 158/8 in 20 overs (Shubham Ranjane 51, Shayan Jahangir 49; Usman Tariq 3/27, Shadab Khan 2/26) by 32 runs.