Key events
6th over: USA 44-1 ( Monank 19, Gous 8) Naseem nearly gets a second immediately as Gous edges just short of Iftikhar at slip, and it squeaks through the fingers and down to the rope. Gous picks up a second four with a short armed pull.
WICKET! Taylor c Rizwan b Naseem 12 (USA 36-1)
That’s more like it. Length perfection and an outside edge into the gloves of Rizwan.
5th over: USA 36-0 (Taylor 12, Monank 19) Amir back from the other end. Keeps his radar this time but still eight from the over, including a short one pulled for four by Monank.
4th over: USA 28-0 (Taylor 9, Monank 14) Mohammad Amir doesn’t get a second over, as Babar throws the ball to Naseem. He manages to stem the flow, with just four from the over. Stars and stripes being waved in the crowd as spectators crouch from the blazing sun under umbrellas.
3rd over: USA 24-0 (Taylor 7, Monank 12) Afridi starts with two dots, a single follows and another leg-side wide. A very unhappy Afridi then has to watch Monack get a thick edge and the ball fly past an unmoving Iftikhar at slip. The next ball is a dodgy full toss driven for four with aplomb. A huge appeal to the final ball – Pakistan ask the question but it pitches outside leg – so they lose a review. Not an ideal start this for Pakistan.
2nd over: USA 14-0 (Taylor 6, Monank 4) Amir starts with two wides – not the start Rizwan was after. A super stop at backward point prevents a boundary. Eeek, another legside wide. Babar marches behind Amir as he walks back to his mark to whisper words of wisdom. Good spot from the commentators – Pakistan have already bowled more wides than USA did in Pakistan’s entire innings. Monack throws the bat and picks up four as the ball flies off the toe end through backward point for four. I think he’s broken his bat.
1st over: USA 6-0 (Taylor 4, Monank 0) Afridi, tall, bearded. A third ball wide, a fourth ball full toss which Taylor pans to the extra-cover boundary. A very enthusiastic Rizwan appeals for a catch off the last – the ball has flicked something but the umpire says no, and in the end Pakistan decide not to review. Just as well as it flicked the pad.
USA need 160 to win
Here we go! How will the USA cope with Shaheen Shah Afridi?
I’m going to grab a quick cup of tea. Back v shortly.
20th over: Pakistan 159-7 ( Afridi 23, Haris 3) Afridi swings and misses at a bouncer from Ali Khan – tries to steal two runs off a dead ball and is firmly put in his place by the umpires. Swings and misses at the second. Pakistan struggling to get bat on ball, a couple of singles, a wide, then boom-boom six over the sight screen and into the top tier. “Afridi” shout the crowd, but he can’t oblige off the last ball from the superb Ali Khan, pinching just a single off a yorker.
Brilliant by USA, who now get to chase a gettable target at a ground where, according to the USA captain, chasing is the easiest of the suites.
19th over: Pakistan 149-7 ( Afridi 15, Haris 2) The end of a superb bowling performance by Netravalkar – Afridi tonks six over long-on with great panache, nearly falls to the last ball , top edging into the stratosphere but the ball lands safely.
WICKET! Iftikhar lbw Natravalkar 18 (Pakistan 139-7)
Given out immediately on the pitch, Pakistan review. Let’s see – a slower full toss that Iftikhar misses as he goes for a sweep: no inside edge but it bellows into the front pad on leg stump. Pakistan could have done with him there right till the end.
18th over: Pakistan 139-6 (Iftikhar 18, Afridi 7 ) Ali Khan with the 18th, Afridi has a wild swing at a full toss and picks up four. But no more boundaries, and a v clever selection of yorkers to restrict the scoring.
17th over: Pakistan 132-6 (Iftikhar 16, Afridi 2 ) Iftikhar cuts a juicy wide one to the deep third boundary, but Anderson responds by tightening everything up and there is only six from the over.
“A very interesting tussle between the experienced but nervy Pakistan and the new kids on the block known as the USA team who are playing exceptionally, especially the slow left-armer Kenjigge.” writes Colum Fordham.
“Azam Khan is defintely an enigma, with the build of Oliver Hardy. His golden duck doesn’t inspire after his comic wicket-keeping against England in the warm-up matches.” Choices for the selectors ahead of India v Pakistan in New York on Sunday .
16th over: Pakistan 126-6 (Iftikhar 11, Afridi 1 ) Babar starts the over with a bit of magic, wafting Jasdeep over extra-cover for six. Four more as Iftikhar cuts past a diving fielder, but one angling in does for Babar, and now Iftikhar must guide the tail to 150 and beyond.
WICKET! Babar lbw Jasdeep 44 (Pakistan 125-4)
The big one! Looks straight…up goes the finger. Babar reviews at the last second because – well, why not. But the TV review shows the ball nipping the top of leg stump.
15th over: Pakistan 113–5 (Babar 37, Iftikhar 6) Babar tucks into a long hop from Harmeet. And with five overs left, time for Pakistan to put their foot down.
14th over: Pakistan 107–5 (Babar 32, Iftikhar 6) Singles, then Iftikhar throws the bat at a wide one from Ali Khan and the ball flies past the diving fielder to the rope. Valuable booty.
13th over: Pakistan 99-5 (Babar 29, Iftikhar 0) Kenjige denied a hat-trick by Iftikhar’s firm defence, but damage done just as Pakistan were teeing off. Kenjige cock-a-hoop!
WICKET! Azam Khan lbw Kenjige 0 (Pakistan 98-5)
Ah man, a golden duck for Azam. Pretty straight. He consults Babar and reviews, but starts walking once the replay is shown on the big screen, and sure enough it is umpire’s call. It never rains, etc.
WICKET! Shadab c b Kenjige 40 (Pakistan 98-4)
Brilliant two-handed catch at short fine leg as Shadab, after a few minutes being treated for dehydration, goes round the corner.
12th over: Pakistan 93-3 (Babar 28, Shadab 36) The returning Harmeet is welcomed by a flurry of blows as Babar dances again and disdainfully bursts six , and Shadab proffers a one-kneed club for four. The last ball, a full toss, is greeted with a thrusting pad and flowing bat and the ball flies through the hands/over the fingertips of the leaping Taylor on the rope for six! Pakistan now on the march.
11th over: Pakistan 66-3 (Babar 20, Shadab 25) Babar, replenished, dances down the field, not entirely without risk, and tonks Kenjige back over his head.
10th over: Pakistan 66-3 (Babar 14, Shadab 23) Shadab has had enough , slams Jasdeep Singh’s first ball for six over long leg, pans his second over midwicket for six more. A wide, a handful of singles and the first four of the innings at exactly the half way point as Babar wristily whips to the rope . Drinks all round.
9th over: Pakistan 46-3 (Babar 9, Shadab 9) A few overs of tippy-tappy calm, but Pakistan will need to start squirrelling runs a little more effectively – Babar currently 9 off 23, Shadab 9 off 13. Hamreet Singh reels through another neat over.
8th over: Pakistan 40-3 (Babar 6, Shadab 7) Jasdeep, hair in a wrap, is called into the attack. Tight lines. Babar drives smartly but is thwarted by a fielder at mid-off. Beautiful blue skies and a very full stadium.
7th over: Pakistan 35-3 (Babar 5, Shadab 4) Harmeet Singh, formerly of India U-19, whips through a first over of his left-arm spin. Shadab not entirely at ease.
6th over: Pakistan 30-3 (Babar 4, Shadab 1) A quick single ending in a body dive to get the heart racing. Only three off the over and, at the end of the power play, an electric USA have restricted Pakistan to just five an over.
“Net’ bowling beautifully,” writes Dean Kinsella. “1 wkt for 5 runs off 2 powerplay overs brings a whole new meaning to Net’ run rate.”
5th over: Pakistan 27-3 (Babar 2, Shadab 0) Babar standing watching the wreckage, though could himself have been run-out off a leg bye. A wide is the only bonus for Pakistan.
WICKET! Fakhar Zaman c Taylor b Ali Khan 11 (Pakistan 26-3)
Oh dear, oh dear. Fakhar tries a wobbly scoop and is caught at short fine leg by that man Taylor again.
4th over: Pakistan 22-2 (Babar 1, Fakhar 7) Only one from Netravalkar’s carefully curated over. Babar struggling for oomph.
And an email drops, hello Beau Dure! “I am indeed of the same age — not only do I think of JR and Sue Ellen, but I remember that the Dallas theme song was the piece to learn on clarinet to get instant middle-school band cred.
“If that sounds too geeky, I can attest my interests are now much more diverse — which I why I’m watching this game on TV and gave a shout in the house when the US team took their second wicket.”
Beau, no-one can be too geeky for the OBO. FYI, at my school, the go-to theme song for the flute (I didn’t play) was Memory.
3rd over: Pakistan 21-2 (Babar 1, Fakhar 7) I hope this isn’t going to turn into one of those occasions when the wheels falls off project Pakistan, shortly followed by the windscreen wipers, the boot and the doors. Fakhar Zaman belts six from his first ball to settle nerves.
WICKET! Usman c Kumar b Kenjige (Pakistan 14-2)
Usman has an attack of the wham-bams and picks out one of only two players outside the circle, Kumar at long off, who watches the catch drop into his hands.
2nd over: Pakistan 13-1 (Babar 1, Usman 3) A Roger Harper-esque effort by Taylor, leaves Pakistan fans in the crowd in open-mouthed dismay. Super bowling by Netravalkar.
WICKET! Rizwan c Taylor b Netravalkar 9 (Pakistan 9-1)
Unbelievable catch! At slip Taylor swallow dives to his right to pluck from the air a squared-up Rizwan. A chunky edge and a plunge at full stretch, long sleeved arm hyperextended out and behind.
1st over: Pakistan 9-0 (Rizwan 9, Babar 0) Nosthush Kenjige is going to open with his slow left arm. Rizwan makes the most of the smallest 63m boundary and gets things rolling with a slog-sweep for six off the third ball .
Here come the anthems – accompanied by huge flags. Pakistan first, hands on heart from the players and the crowd. A jaunty number. America’s a rather heart-wrung unaccompanied version of the Star Spangled banner.
The players are on the pitch and raring to go – will we get a first score over 200 today?
Pakistan XI
Pakistan XI: Babar Azam (c), Muhammad Rizwan (wk), Usman Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Azam Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Amir, Haris Rauf.
Looks like Rizwan will take the gloves, and Azam Khan plays as a specialist batter. Poor kid has so much abuse that he ended up disabling his instagram and deleting all his photos.
USA XI
One change: slow left armer Nostush Kenjige comes in
USA XI: Monank Patel (c, wk), Steven Taylor, Andries Gous, Aaron Jones, Nitish Kumar, Corey Anderson, Harmeet Singh, Jessy Singh, Nosthush Kenjige, Saurabh Netravalkar, Ali Khan.
USA win the toss and will bowl!
Monank Patel makes the most of Babar Azam calling wrongly and USA will field first on a day of hot sunchine and blue skies.
“Chasing here is easier,” he says. “The way we chased down total was entertaining. Have momentum, want to continue that. I’m excited for this challenge.”
Babar would have done the same.
And while we wait for the toss, happy birthday Pakistan umpiring legend Aleem Dar!
🏆 Won the David Shepherd Trophy for ICC umpire of the year from 2009-2011
🥇 Most matches as an umpire in men’s ODIs and Tests
🥇 Officiated in 453 international matches
⭐ Former member of the ICC Elite Panel of UmpiresHappy birthday, Aleem Dar! 🎂 pic.twitter.com/iiOP5MCazU
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) June 6, 2024
Weather watch
According to the forecasters, it is currently 27 degrees C down in Dallas, rising to 34 degrees by mid-afternoon. A light breeze to kiss your neck. I wonder what are they serving for snacks in the stadium – if you are there, please settle my curiosity: Tanya.Aldred.freelance@theguardian.com
Here is Andy Bull’s take on the opening game at the Grand Prairie Stadium.
Preamble
Hello! If Dallas to you spells JR and Sue Ellen, congratulations. Pin the tail on the donkey and pass the Tizer – you’re as old as me. Today, however., it spells cricket: hosting the third of four World Cup games in the city, between USA and Pakistan in the tantalising group A.
Unlike in New York, the pitch at the Grand Prairie cricket stadium has been decent – offering runs to the batters and carry and bounce to the bowlers. Pakistan, who play their first game of the competition, have had their warm-up troubles – rain in England, rain in Dallas, injury to Imad Wasim and controversy over the wicketkeeping position. In trying to bring runs to the late-middle order they slotted PSL Imtiaz Ahmed award winner Azam Khan into the gloves, with fairly hapless results in final ODI at The Oval. It remains to be see whether Mohammad Rizwan, a far neater, more acrobatic keeper, takes them back.
USA are buzzing on the back of their thrashing of Canada in the opening game of the tournament, thanks largely to Aaron Jones 94 not out off 40 balls. The US (four wins out of five) actually have a better recent record than Pakistan (two wins out of five) so despite Pakistan being the odds-on-favourite, this is the kind of seaweed they sometimes slip up on.
Play starts at 4.30pm BST. See you here.
