Pakistan Cruise Past United States by 32 Runs to Secure Back-to-Back T20 World Cup Victories

Pakistan continued their strong start to the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 on Monday with a comfortable 32-run victory over the United States at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Colombo. The win represents Pakistan's second consecutive triumph in the tournament and puts them in an excellent position to advance to the Super 8 stage from Group A.

Pakistan posted a competitive total after being sent in to bat, with their middle order providing crucial contributions to set a challenging target for the American side. The bowling attack then took control, with left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi leading the way with figures of 1-42 from his four overs. The Pakistani bowlers applied consistent pressure throughout the United States' innings, never allowing the chase to gain any real momentum despite a spirited effort from the USA batsmen.

The United States showed glimpses of resistance during their reply, with Shadley van Schalkwyk and Ehsan Adil both at the crease late in the innings. However, they were unable to maintain the required run rate as Pakistan's experienced bowling unit expertly executed their plans. The 32-run margin of victory was comfortable in the end, reflecting Pakistan's superior performance across all departments of the game.

The match was part of a busy day at the T20 World Cup, which is being co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. With this victory, Pakistan has demonstrated the form and consistency that makes them one of the favorites to lift the trophy. Their balanced squad, featuring explosive batsmen and a world-class pace attack, appears well-equipped to handle the challenges of the tournament's knockout stages.

For the United States, the loss represents a setback in their campaign, though the team showed enough competitiveness to suggest they can still trouble other opponents in the group stage. The Americans will need to regroup quickly and find ways to match the intensity and execution of more experienced international sides. Pakistan, meanwhile, will look to maintain this winning momentum as they pursue their first T20 World Cup title since 2009, with their next group match representing another opportunity to solidify their position atop the standings.