Pakistan eases past USA in T20 World Cup clash

Pakistan defeated the United States of America (USA) by 32 runs in their T20 World Cup Group A game in Colombo on Tuesday.

Pakistan registered their second successive win in the event, after their victory against the Netherlands on Saturday, and will face India next on Sunday.

Chasing a target of 191 runs, USA could only score 158-8 in 20 overs. Spinner Usman Tariq was the pick of the bowlers for Pakistan, claiming three wickets for 27 runs. Shadab Khan also impressed as he bagged figures of 2-26.

For USA, Shubham Ranjane scored 51 runs in 30 balls, while opener Shayan Jahangir notched up 49 runs in 34 balls.

Earlier, opener Sahibzada Farhan hit a robust half-century to help Pakistan post 190-9.

The 29-year-old hit five sixes and six fours in his 41-ball 73 and was aided by a brilliant 32-ball 46 by Babar Azam (four fours, one six) as Pakistan, who were sent in to bat, took advantage of a good batting pitch.

Farhan and fellow opener Saim Ayub, who scored 17-ball 19 with two sixes, put on 54 in five overs before Pakistan lost two wickets in the sixth over of the innings bowled by Shadley van Schalkwyk.

Ayub was caught off a slower one while skipper Salman Agha holed out on the deep square-leg boundary for one.

Farhan and Azam then put on an 81-run third-wicket stand as Pakistan cut loose in the middle overs.

Farhan passed 1,000 T20 international runs in his 41st match before he was caught in the covers off spinner Harmeet Singh in the 16th over.

Shadab Khan launched an assault to score 30 off 12 balls before Pakistan lost five wickets for just 13 runs in the last two overs.

Schalkwyk was the best USA bowler with 4-25, following his four-wicket haul against India in the 29-run defeat on Saturday.

With additional input from AFP.