USA vs PAK | Twitter slams Rauf for failing to defend 15 against struggling batsmen in fatal final over

SportsCafe Desk

BySportsCafe Desk, SportsCafe Editor

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Not all failures are created equal, with some leaving behind a legacy that would haunt the victims for years. Such was the case for Haris Rauf on Thursday after the express quick got hammered for 14 runs by a struggling American batting duo in Dallas, ultimately leading to a Super Over loss.

‌The United States of America pulled off the first upset of the T20 World Cup on home soil in Pakistan's tournament opener after levelling the 159-run score in regulation time before putting up a winning target of 19 runs in the Super Over. The hosts were in control of the encounter for large phases of the game but had let the chase slip away at the death by managing just 41 runs off six overs to leave a daunting 15 to get off the final six balls. To compound their misery, big-hitter Aaron Jones seemed to be struggling on the tricky deck, managing just 28 off 23 balls, while Nitish Kumar at the other end was batting at less than run-a-ball after facing 11 deliveries. However, what transpired thereafter is bound to go down in World Cup folklore.

Skipper Babar Azam handed the Kookaburra to Haris Rauf after his express speed had troubled the duo in the over before and the rapid quick began brilliantly with just three singles off as many balls, including a dropped catch of Jones by Shaheen Afridi. With 12 needed off three, it was now or never time for the Star-spangled Banner represents and to their fortune, Rauf came to the rescue. The veteran missed his attempted yorker and Jones swung at the full-toss with disdain towards his preferred mid-wicket region to register a crucial six. However, all the drama only culminated in the USA needing five from the final delivery which seemed highly improbable given former Canadian captain Nitish had not managed a single boundary so far. Yet, in a moment straight out of fairytales, Rauf fumbled by gifting the batter another low full toss that was lofted over mid-off for a boundary leading to ecstatic celebrations in the US dugout.

Twitterati could not believe the callous nature of the last few deliveries by Pakistan's fastest pacer and took to social media to express their friustration!

What?? xD xD

Oh lord!

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Bottled

Hero!

LOL

Good question

Unacceptable

Heat!

Interesting

Fluke

World Class

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