England easily chased a 116-run target against the United States without losing a single wicket during the T20 World Cup 2024’s Super Eight match played at Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, on Sunday.
England became the first team to qualify for the semi-finals.
Jos Buttler and Phil Salt chased down the 116-run target in just 9.4 overs without losing a single as all the USA bowlers were taken to the cleaners by the English duo.
Buttler scored 83 off just 38 deliveries with the help of six fours and seven sixes, including five maximums in a row to USA’s Harmeet Singh in the ninth over.
England were the last team to secure a berth in the Super 8 but became the first side to make their way to the tournament’s semi-final.
Earlier in the first innings, English bowlers once again dominated their opponents and sent the entire USA team back to the pavilion for just 115 runs in 18.5 overs.
Chris Jordan picked four wickets in the 19th over including a brilliant hat-trick, becoming just the second bowler after Australia’s Pat Cummins to take a hat-trick in T20 World Cup 2024.
English bowlers were all over the USA batters from the start as they kept on taking wickets at regular intervals.
Only Nitish Kumar (30 off 24), Corey Anderson (29 off 28) and Harmeet Singh (21 off 17) scored some crucial runs for the batting side while their skipper Aaron Jones could only post 10 runs after facing 16 balls.
Jordan picked four, Sam Curran and Adil Rashid bagged two each while Liam Livingstone and Reece Topley managed to take one wicket each.
Earlier today, Jos Buttler won the toss and opted to bowl first. England made one change in their playing XI with Chris Jordan replacing speedster Mark Wood. Meanwhile, the USA are playing the same side that took the field against West Indies, which they lost.
USA: Steven Taylor, Andries Gous (wk), Nitish Kumar, Aaron Jones (capt), Corey Anderson, Milind Kumar, Harmeet Singh, Nosthush Kenjinge, Shadley van Schalkwyk, Ali Khan, Saurabh Netravalkar
England: Phil Salt, Jos Buttler (capt & wk), Jonny Bairstow, Moeen Ali, Harry Brook, Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran, Chris Jordan, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid Reece Topley
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