Pakistan batters finally rose to the occasion to beat Canada by seven wickets in their must-win Group A match and boost their campaign in the T20 World Cup in New York on Tuesday.
Opting to bowl first, the Pakistani bowlers delivered a comprehensive performance to restrict Canada to a modest 106/7. The decision to field first proved wise as Pakistan’s bowling attack came out with all guns blazing.
Pakistani openers Mohammad Rizwan and skipper Babar Azam methodically chased down the target, taking Pakistan over the line with 15 balls to spare. Displaying superb control and resilience, Rizwan and Babar shared a crucial 63-run partnership for the second wicket, which laid the foundation for the victory.
Babar contributed a run-a-ball 33 that included a six and a four. On the other hand, Rizwan served as the anchor during the chase, remaining unbeaten with a composed 53 off as many deliveries, featuring two fours and a six. The duo’s experience and skill proved critical, particularly when Pakistan struggled initially, crawling to 28 for 1 during the powerplay as Canadian seamers excelled early on.
However, the introduction of Canadian spinners into the attack made run-scoring easier for Pakistan. Leveraging their vast experience, Babar and Rizwan manipulated the strike effectively and punished loose deliveries, bringing the equation down in Pakistan’s favor.
Earlier in the innings, Aaron Johnson was the standout performer for Canada, scoring a resilient 52 as Pakistan’s bowlers kept chipping away at the wickets, restricting the opposition to a defendable total. Despite facing a two-paced wicket with inconsistent bounce, Johnson fought valiantly, hitting four sixes and as many fours in his 44-ball knock.
Unfortunately for Canada, no other batter supported Johnson effectively. Mohammad Amir was the pick of the Pakistani bowlers, delivering figures of 4-0-13-2. Haris Rauf was equally impressive, finishing with 2/26. Moreover, Shaheen Shah Afridi (1/21) and Naseem Shah (1/24) recovered commendably after receiving wayward starts.
Johnson’s aggressive approach was evident as he capitalized on all scoring opportunities. His powerful hits, often clearing the ropes with brute force, were notable highlights.
. However, his innings came to an abrupt end after he reached his half-century. He missed a delivery from Naseem Shah and was bowled out, leaving Canada struggling at a total of 73.
With Johnson back to the pavilion, Canada faced the threat of being bowled out for a sub-100 score. Nonetheless, skipper Saad Bin Zafar (10) and Kaleem Sana (13) managed to push their team past the 100-run mark, offering their bowlers a slightly better total to defend.
The pressure was evident when Pakistan’s lead bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi began his spell with two full tosses, both hit for boundaries by Johnson. Naseem Shah was also targeted by Johnson, who sent his away-moving delivery over the off-side field for a boundary.
Pakistan’s first breakthrough came courtesy of Mohammad Amir. After conceding a boundary off his first ball, Amir rebounded to bowl out Navneet Dhaliwal on his final delivery. Shaheen Shah Afridi then returned with a change of ends to dismiss Pargat Singh (2), caught by Fakhar Zaman, allowing Pakistan to regain control by the end of the powerplay.
Imad Wasim further tightened the screws with a direct hit from cover, running out Nicholas Kirton (1) at the non-striker’s end. This added immense pressure on Johnson, who was carrying the bulk of the scoring responsibility. Haris Rauf then delivered a double-wicket over, having Shreyas Movva (2) caught behind and Ravinderpal Singh (0) at first slip, leaving Canada in disarray at 54 for five. Importantly, this also marked Haris Rauf’s achievement of 100 T20I wickets.
As the game concluded, Pakistan’s combined team effort in both the bowling and batting departments ensured a critical win. This victory not only keeps Pakistan in contention in Group A but also bolsters their confidence as they move forward in the T20 World Cup.
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