T20 World Cup: Pakistan avenges 2024 loss to US and NZ duo shares record partnership

CHENNAI, India (AP) — Pakistan avenged its shocking loss to the United States from two years ago at the T20 World Cup on Tuesday, and New Zealand openers Tim Seifert and Finn Allen shared the highest-ever partnership for any wicket at the tournament.

The U.S., which gave co-host India a scare in its opening game before going down by 29 runs in Mumbai, struggled against Pakistan's spinners and lost by 32 runs in Colombo. It gave Pakistan its second successive win in Group A ahead of its huge showdown with archrival India on Sunday, a match that will go ahead after Pakistan reversed its decision to boycott.

Opener Sahibzada Farhan (73) and the experienced Babar Azam (46) gave Pakistan a strong total of 190-9 despite fast bowler Shadley van Schalwyk snaring his second four-wicket haul of the tournament.

The U.S. entered the game with happy memories of its stunning win over Pakistan in Texas in 2024, but its batters couldn’t get momentum against mystery spinner Usman Tariq (3-27) and leg-spinner Shadab Khan (2-26). The other two spinners, Mohammad Nawaz and Abrar Ahmed, shared two wickets.

The U.S. batters looked more at ease against the pace of Shaheen Shah Afridi, who returned 1-42 before Pakistan's tactic of deploying five spinners for the rest of the game worked well under the lights at Sinhalese Sports Club.

Shubham Ranjane posted 51 off 30 balls and opener Shayan Jahangir showed some aggression in the power play with 49 from 34 deliveries, but couldn't force the acceleration against spin-heavy Pakistan.

Tariq, who has an unusual side bowling action and takes a long pause just before delivering the ball, deceived the U.S. batters with his unique bowling style as he grabbed the wickets of Harmeet Singh and then Mohsin Ali off successive deliveries.

After being put into bat, Farhan hit five sixes and six boundaries and Babar got over another slow start and scored at a reasonable strike rate of 143.75. Babar, who is often criticized for his slow strike rate and is pushed down to No. 4, scored just 15 off 18 balls before accelerating with four boundaries and a six.

Pakistan lost Farhan and Babar in successive overs but Shadab played a vital cameo of 30 off just 12 balls as the U.S. claimed five wickets off the last 10 balls in a late collapse, including two in the penultimate over bowled by van Schalwyk.

In Chennai, Seifert and Allen’s brutal power-hitting in an unbroken stand of 175 saw the Black Caps beat UAE by 10 wickets.

Seifert followed his half century in the first Group D game against Afghanistan with an unbeaten 89 off 42 balls. Allen was not far behind and smacked 84 not out off 50 balls.

New Zealand sprinted to 175-0 in 15.2 overs for its second successive win in a group that also features 2024 finalist South Africa. After winning the toss, UAE skipper Muhammad Waseem (66 not out off 45 deliveries) and Alishan Sharafu (55 off 47) had earlier anchored their team on a good batting wicket to 173-6 in 20 overs.

But the target proved too small for the aggressive New Zealand batters.

Seifert and Allen made a rollicking start of 78-0 in the power play as the UAE pacemen bowled too many length balls which were duly dispatched for boundaries.

Seifert hit 12 fours and three sixes, including the winning six over the head of Muhammad Rohid, who was the most expensive UAE bowler with 0-51 in 3.2 overs. Junaid Siddique’s four overs went for 47 without a wicket, and Muhammad Arfan conceded 36 runs off his three overs.

Allen matched Seifert with his innovative ramp shots and hit five fours and five sixes.

The previous record stand at a men’s T20 World Cup (170 runs) was set by England batters Alex Hales and Jos Buttler against India in 2022.

In a day game at New Delhi, Bas de Leede’s all-round performance earned Netherlands a seven-wicket win over Namibia in Group A.

De Leede took 2-20 as the Dutch used eight bowlers and Namibia scored 156-8. De Leede then smashed four sixes and five boundaries and guided his team to 159-3 in 18 overs with an unbeaten 72 off 48 balls.

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United States' Shubham Ranjane, right, celebrates his fifty runs during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Pakistan and the United States in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Pakistan's Usman Tariq, right, and Pakistan's captain Salman Agha delegates after they won the T20 World Cup cricket match against the United States in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

United States players stand for national anthem before the start of the T20 World Cup cricket match between Pakistan and the United States in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Pakistan's players stand for national anthem before the start of the the T20 World Cup cricket match between Pakistan and the United States in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

New Zealand's Tim Seifert plays a shot during the T20 World Cup cricket match between New Zealand and United Arab Emirates in Chennai, India, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)

New Zealand's Finn Allen plays a shot during the T20 World Cup cricket match between New Zealand and United Arab Emirates in Chennai, India, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)

Netherlands' Bas de Leede, left, runs out Namibia's Ruben Trumpelmann during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Namibia and Netherlands in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

Namibia's Ruben Trumpelmann throws his bat up in the air after losing his wicket during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Namibia and Netherlands in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2026.(AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

Netherlands' Bas de Leede, left, runs out Namibia's Ruben Trumpelmann during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Namibia and Netherlands in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

Netherlands' Michael Levitt hits a ball for four runs during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Namibia and Netherlands in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

New Zealand's players stand up for the national anthems before the start of the during the T20 World Cup cricket match between New Zealand and United Arab Emirates in Chennai, India, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)

United Arab Emirates's players stand up for the national anthems before the start of the during the T20 World Cup cricket match between New Zealand and United Arab Emirates in Chennai, India, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)

Thousands of Catholic devotees commemorated Good Friday across Latin America with processions and ceremonies re-enacting the crucifixion of Jesus.

In Antigua, a colonial-era city in southern Guatemala, dozens dressed in purple and white robes and made their way under the early morning sun, many of them penitents known as “cucuruchos.” Others carried centuries-old images of Jesus through cobblestone streets.

The city hosts more than a dozen processions throughout Holy Week, set against a backdrop of volcanoes.

Marcos Bautista, 63, said he has attended the Good Friday observances since his father brought him along as a baby in his arms.

“To describe Holy Week in Antigua, there are no words that can capture what it feels like," Bautista said. “It’s a feeling that, just by speaking about what Jesus has done in our lives, moves me deeply.”

In Bolivia, President Rodrigo Paz traveled to the southern city of Tarija to participate in Good Friday ceremonies.

The country is a secular state under its constitution and its leaders refrained from engaging in any religious events between 2006 and 2025. But Paz — who took office last November — broke with precedent by attending Palm Sunday Mass carrying a palm frond.

In the capital city of La Paz, local authorities and military bands accompanied Good Friday processions, in which hooded penitents carried the Holy Sepulcher through the streets.

Antonio Santamaría, who was holding an image of Jesus, said he welcomed the government’s presence. “I’m glad everyone is here now,” Santamaría said.

Bolivia remains a predominantly Catholic country, alongside strong Indigenous spiritual traditions. In some households, it is customary to eat only fish on Good Friday and prepare up to 12 dishes representing the apostles of Jesus, a tradition that has declined in recent years amid an economic crisis.

In Ecuador, where about 80% of the population identifies as Catholic, processions were held across major cities. In the capital, Quito, the “Jesús del Gran Poder” procession drew more than 150,000 faithful who filled the historic center’s streets with chants and prayers as they accompanied an image of Jesus carrying the cross.

Thousands more climbed the Monserrate Hill in neighboring Colombia. At more than 10,200 feet (3,100 meters) above sea level, they reached the summit in the capital city of Bogotá to attend Mass at the basilica. Similar observances, including reenactments of the Stations of the Cross, were held in other parts of the country.

Mexicans, too, celebrated Good Friday in a country that’s home to nearly 100 million Catholics.

Masked penitents, in chains and with pieces of cactus stuck to their skin, walked through the town of Atlixco, in the central state of Puebla. Known as the “Procession of the Chained," it’s part of a tradition in which some participants pay penance for their sins and others thank God for miracles.

“It’s very beautiful, very sad,” said Marcela Ramírez, a homemaker who attended the procession. “It’s a kind of reverence, and you have to come and accompany them.”

While the share of Catholics in Latin America has declined over the past decade, the faith remains the region’s largest religion.

In several countries, including Peru and Argentina, more than 60% of adults still identify as Catholic, according to 2024 surveys by the Pew Research Center and Latinobarómetro.

AP journalists Moisés Castillo in Antigua, Guatemala; Carlos Valdez and Juan Karita in La Paz, Bolivia; Gonzalo Solano and Gabriela Molina, in Quito, Ecuador; and Martín Silva in Atlixco, Mexico, contributed to this report.

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

A penitents known as a "Veronica" takes part in the Jesus del Gran Poder procession in Quito, Ecuador, Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa).

Hooded penitents known as "Cucuruchos" take part in the Jesus del Gran Poder procession in Quito, Ecuador, Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa).

A blindfolded penitent wears a crown of thorns before a Good Friday procession during Holy Week celebrations in Atlixco, Mexico, Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)

Chains drape over the Santa Muerte tattoo of a penitent before a Good Friday procession during Holy Week in Atlixco, Mexico, Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)

A penitent wearing chains and prickly cactus holds a photo on a cross at a Good Friday procession during Holy Week in Atlixco, Mexico, Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)

Penitents from the Nazareno brotherhood carry a statue of Jesus down the steps of the Cathedral Basilica of St. James the Apostle for a Good Friday procession during Holy Week in Tunja, Colombia, Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)

A hooded penitent from the Nazareno brotherhood waits for the Good Friday procession inside the Cathedral Basilica of St. James the Apostle during Holy Week in Tunja, Colombia, Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)

Young women and girls carry jeweled hearts representing the Virgin Mary at a Good Friday procession during Holy Week in La Paz, Bolivia, Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

Hooded penitents participate in a Good Friday procession during Holy Week in La Paz, Bolivia, Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

A statue of Jesus Christ with a cross makes its way past electric cables at La Merced church's Good Friday procession during Holy Week in Antigua, Guatemala, Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)

Women carry children dressed as penitents knows as "cucuruchos" on the sidelines of La Merced church's Good Friday procession during Holy Week in Antigua, Guatemala, Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)

Penitents carry statues of Jesus Christ representing the Stations of the Cross at a Good Friday procession by La Merced church during Holy Week in Antigua, Guatemala, just before sunrise Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)

Musicians dressed as Roman soldiers take part in La Merced church's Good Friday procession during Holy Week in Antigua, Guatemala, Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)