T20 World Cup: Pakistan out as co-hosts United States make history, reach knockout stage
- On their debut appearance, the Americans qualify for Super Eights ahead of Pakistan, in a boost for the sport before 2028 LA Olympics
The United States cricket team have made more history by reaching the second round on their Twenty20 World Cup debut after their last group game against Ireland was washed out on Friday.
The co-hosts qualified for the knockout Super Eight stage at the expense of Pakistan without bowling a ball after torrential rain washed out their match at Broward County Stadium in Lauderdale, Florida.
The Americans have also automatically qualified for the 2026 Twenty20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.
The US qualified for this T20 World Cup only as co-hosts with the West Indies, but they have used home advantage to make a stunning first impression in their first major cricket tournament.
The 17th-ranked team joined the West Indies, India, Australia, South Africa and Afghanistan in the Super Eight, with two more teams yet to qualify.
While the Americans progressed alongside unbeaten India from Group A, former champion Pakistan and winless Ireland were eliminated.
The Americans’ place in the Super Eights is a welcome boost for the game in the region, with cricket scheduled to return to the Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028.
In later matches on Friday, South Africa beat Nepal by one run and New Zealand defeated Uganda by nine wickets.
South Africa grabbed a dramatic last ball victory over Nepal in Kingstown when Quinton de Kock and Heinrich Klaasen combined to run out Gulsan Jha off the final ball to win by a run and maintain their unbeaten record.
New Zealand, already eliminated after losing to Afghanistan and the West Indies, took full advantage of conditions more akin to the old Carisbrook rugby and cricket ground in Dunedin than a Caribbean venue to thrash Uganda by nine wickets at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad.
The New Zealand bowlers got the ball to swerve, cut and spin throughout to dismiss Uganda for 40, only one more than they scored against West Indies in Georgetown – the joint-lowest score at a T20 World Cup.
New Zealand reached their target from a little more than five overs for the loss of one wicket but it was no consolation for a disappointing tournament and they will now fly home whatever the result of their final group match against Papua New Guinea on Monday.
