West Indies crush USA to keep their semi-final hopes alive

BRIDGETOWN: A combined bowling performance followed by Shai Hope’s whirlwind knock of 82 runs to help West Indies thump the United States of America (USA) in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 clash here on Friday.

Chasing a modest 129-run target, the West Indies showed a dominant performance and achieved the target with 55 balls to spare after losing one wicket.

Hope gave his team a strong start with his attacking approach, while Johnson Charles supported him from the other end, playing an anchor role.

West Indies raised 58 runs in the powerplay with Hope scoring 42 and Charles scoring 15 off 13.

Hope completed his half-century in 26 balls with a six off Harmeet Singh, however, Charles fell in the same over.

Nicholas Pooran joined Hope and West Indies wreaked havoc from both ends as they raised an unbeaten 63-run partnership to lead their side to a thumping win.

With 19 required off 10 overs, Pooran struck Saurabh Netravalkar for two sixes, before Hope finished the game with a six off the fifth ball of the over.

Pooran scored a 12-ball 27 with the help of three sixes and one four, while Hope scored a scintillating 82 off 39 balls, laced with four boundaries and eight sixes.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Earlier, Andre Russell drew first blood for West Indies after they opted to bowl first, dismissing Steven Taylor (2) in the second over.

Andries Gous was then joined by Nitish Kumar and together they added 48 runs for the second wicket before Gudakesh Motie struck right after the powerplay.

Kumar scored 20 off 19 before he got out LBW off Motie in the seventh over.

Alzarri Joseph then dismissed Gous, who top-scored with 29 runs from 16 balls, to reduce USA to 60-3 in the next over.

Roston Chase then dismissed the USA captain Aaron Jones, who scored a run-a-ball 11. The all-rounder then removed Corey Anderson (7) and Harmeet Singh (0) on back-to-back deliveries in the 14th over to leave the USA reeling.

Milind Kumar (19) and Shadley van Schalkwyk (18) showed some resistance against West Indies bowlers to drag the team’s total to 112 before they both fell in the 18th over.

Ali Khan then hit an unbeaten 14 off 6 before Russell picked the final wicket of Saurabh Netravalkar to wrap USA innings at 128 in 19.5 overs.

For West Indies, Russell and Chase returned with figures of 3-31 and 3-19 respectively, while Joseph picked two wickets.

READ: Shaheen Afridi will get Pakistan captaincy again: Wasim Akram