Pakistan Stuns England In Thrilling T20 World Cup Clash
Pakistan Stuns England In Thrilling T20 World Cup Clash...
Pakistan pulled off a dramatic 12-run victory over defending champions England in a high-stakes T20 World Cup match today, reigniting their tournament hopes. The upset win at Melbourne Cricket Ground drew massive US viewership on ESPN+, where cricket interest has surged ahead of the 2026 Los Angeles Olympics.
Babar Azam's team defended a modest 158-run target through Shaheen Afridi's lethal bowling (3-22) and Haris Rauf's death-over heroics. England collapsed from 120/5 to 145 all out in 18.3 overs, with captain Jos Buttler's 42 proving insufficient. The match trended stateside as American fans tuned in for the 3:30 AM ET showdown featuring global stars.
Social media exploded with reactions, particularly to Iftikhar Ahmed's viral caught-and-bowled dismissal of Liam Livingstone. ESPN's broadcast drew 1.2 million concurrent viewers - a record for cricket in the US market. The result leaves Group 2 wide open, with both teams now at 2-1 records.
Cricket's US popularity continues growing ahead of next year's World Cup co-hosting duties. Major League Cricket franchises have already signed six players from this match, including Phil Salt (DC) and Mohammad Rizwan (LA). The ICC reports 18% year-over-year US viewership growth for this tournament.
Pakistan next faces South Africa on Sunday, while England takes on hosts Australia in a must-watch Sydney clash. With Olympic inclusion expanding cricket's reach, today's thriller may mark a watershed moment for American sports audiences discovering the game's intensity.
