By Isabel Baldwin and Associated Press
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The United States made history Friday as they qualified for the Super Eight knockout stage of the T20 World Cup.
The United States’ group match against Ireland in Lauderhill, Florida was washed out on Friday, ensuring the co-hosts’ progress to the Super Eight knockout stage at the expense of former champions Pakistan.
Unrelenting rain, which had put South Florida at risk of life-threatening flooding, resulted in a wet outfield when the teams arrived. Although the rain stopped in the morning, umpires called off the game when it returned after several inspections.
The point from the washout was enough to ensure that the US progressed as India top the group with six points while the Americans are second with five points.
While the Americans progressed, former champion Pakistan and Ireland were eliminated from Super Eight contention.
The United States made history Friday as they qualified for the Super Eight knockout stage
The United States’ group match against Ireland in Lauderhill, Florida was washed out on Friday
Only the top two teams from the four groups advance to the Super Eight. The US beat Canada in the tournament opener before stunning Pakistan .
En route to the Super Eights, the US pulled off one of the biggest shocks in the history of the T20 World Cup with a stunning super-over victory against Pakistan in Dallas.
The Pakistanis needed 19 to win after Mohammad Amir had conceded seven in wides during the Americans’ super over, but left-arm seamer Saurabh Netravalkar dismissed the big-hitting Iftikhar Ahmed and limited them to 13 – prompting wild scenes of celebration.
The perfect start catapulted the Americans to the top of Group A following their two opening wins.
However, they fell short of repeating the incredible upset victory, agonizingly losing to India, who battled to a seven-wicket victory in New York Wednesday.
USA pulled off one of the greatest cricketing upsets in recent memory after prevailing in a dramatic super over against Pakistan at the T20 World Cup
Aaron Jones’ late heroics helped USA force the super over in Texas on Thursday afternoon
The US qualified for this T20 World Cup only as a co-host with the West Indies, but it has used home advantage to make a stunning first impression in its first global cricket tournament.
Tying Pakistan in regular overs then beating it in a super over was one of the greatest upsets in the tournament’s history.
Pakistan won the title in 2009 and reached two more finals, including at the last T20 World Cup in 2022. Ireland was also expected to be a threat. The Irish also reached the second round on debut in 2009 and repeated in 2022.
The 17th-ranked US joined the West Indies, India, Australia, South Africa and Afghanistan in the Super Eight, with two more teams yet to qualify. The Super Eight splits into two groups, with each team guaranteed three games to try and reach the semifinals.
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