🏏ICC T20I WC 2024: S8 - Match 49: USA vs England @ 8:00 PM IST🏏

🏏ICC T20I WC 2024: S8 - Match 49: USA vs England at Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados on 23/06/2024  @ 8:00 PM IST🏏

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USA look to thwart England's charge towards semi-finals

USA will want to take down another Full Member nation in what is likely to be their last game at the World Cup

Can USA upset calculations?

If this is the end of the road for USA's memorable T20 World Cup 2024 journey - they could still squeak into the semi-finals, but the odds are very much against them - then what a stage on which to bow out, facing up to the defending champions with one last chance to cause an upset.

England and USA have met at both football and rugby World Cups but this will be their first cricketing encounter of the modern age. Jos Buttler's side have endured a choppy campaign so far, winning three and losing two to go with a no result in their opening match at Kensington Oval. But they return to Barbados knowing that a convincing performance will go a long way to ensuring their title defence continues into the knockouts.

Victory will put them on four points, and a margin of more than ten runs (batting first) will ensure their net run-rate goes above that of South Africa, who then take on West Indies in the final Group 2 game later on Sunday.

England's cushion comes from their convincing win over the other co-hosts West Indies at the start of the Super Eight, and Buttler remained upbeat after his side lost a close game to South Africa in St Lucia. England have rarely been at their best over the last three weeks in the Caribbean but there have been signs that their game is coming together at the right time for a tilt at becoming the first team to successfully defend the T20 World Cup trophy.

Before they get that far, they must avoid a mishap against a USA side that burned brightly at the start of the tournament but has looked to be running low on gas after three defeats in a row against Full Member oppositions. Their success has already put the names of Aaron Jones, Monank Patel and Saurabh Netravalkar in lights. If they can summon one final effort and become the latest former colony to put one over on the mother country, it will add another sprinkle of Hollywood stardust to cricket's American adventure.

USA vs England Weather Report Of Barbados

The USA vs England match takes place in Bridgetown City in Barbados- a country in the West Indies. The match takes place on Sunday, June 23. According to reports from weather.com, the temperature of the city on Sunday will be 31° Celcius during the day and 27° Celcius during the night. 

The sky will witness thunderstorms during the day and night. The temperature will be 80% during the day and 86% at night. The chances of rain are 55% to 49% throughout the day. 

USA vs England Pitch Analysis

The encounter takes place at Kensington Oval Stadium in Barbados. The stadium has hosted 49 games in the past in the shortest format. Out of these, teams batting first won 31 games while teams batting second won 15 matches. Hence, the stadium looks good for defending the target. 

Out of 49 T20Is at the stadium, the average 1st innings total at the stadium is 139 while the average 2nd innings total is 125. The highest-ever total at the stadium is 224 by West Indies. They posted it in a clash against England in 2022. Hence, the stadium looks like a good for batting. 

The pitch at Barbados Stadium offers support to batters and bowlers. The faulty and bouncy pitches are like a heaven for batters. However, it also helps pacers to get good bounce and attack while bowling. Spinners can also enjoy as the tournament progresses. 

Weather Impact on USA vs England

According to local time in Barbados, the USA vs England game takes place at 10:30 in the morning. The chance of rain is 47% at that time. Moreover, the chances of rain will be at least 40% till night. Weather is highly likely to impact the match. 

Team Watch

USA:

Nisarg Patel is the only member of the squad who hasn't been given a game in the tournament. With little to lose, it remains to be seen if USA are audacious enough to play 3 left-arm spinners in the eleven given the predominance of right handers in the England line up.

Probable XI: Steven Taylor, Andries Gous (wk), Nitish Kumar, Aaron Jones (captain), Corey Anderson, Milind Kumar, Harmeet Singh, Shadley van Schalkwyk/Nisarg Patel, Nosthush Kenjige, Ali Khan, Saurabh Netravalkar

Team Watch

England:

Liam Livingstone remained under injury cloud before their first Super 8 game against the West Indies but the all rounder seems to have recovered well and was well oncourse to seal the game for England against South Africa with a sparkling 33 off 17 before being sent back by Rabada. There would be a temptation to play Tom Hartley on a slow wicket but England would look towards their pacers to put USA under pressure with some quality pace bowling.

Probable XI: Philip Salt, Jos Buttler (captain) (wk), Jonny Bairstow, Moeen Ali, Harry Brook, Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood, Reece Topley

In the spotlight - Aaron Jones and Liam Livingstone

Aaron Jones' six over midwicket to seal a rousing opening-night win over Canada was the shot that was heard around the World Cup. He followed up a career-defining 94 not out by helping secure the tie that eventually led to USA's Super Over victory over Pakistan, but has found the going tougher since then, with scores of 11, 0 and 11. Taking on the captaincy, in the absence of the injured Monank, has added to his burden. But he has another chance to impress at a ground where he played in four first-class matches for Barbados during his time in West Indies' domestic system.

An innings of 33 off 17 balls in a losing cause might not sound much, but could it turn out to be the spark Liam Livingstone needed? Livingstone's attempt to get England over the line against South Africa, helping to revive their chase while adding 78 for the fifth wicket alongside Harry Brook, was only the second time he has scored more than 30 in 22 T20 innings this year. His power when taking down Ottneil Baartman at the death was a reminder of what he can do, and suggested that he may be ready to repay England's faith that he remains the answer in the finisher role.

Form guide

USA LLLWW (last five completed T20Is, most recent first)

England LWWWL

They have never faced each other so far.

When: USA vs England, June 24, 10:30 AM local time, 230 PM GMT, 8 PM IST

Where: Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados

What to expect: If Shai Hope's ballistic 82 off 39 deliveries on Friday night is of evidence, the Barbados track should be a belter for the USA and England game. However, the first couple of overs may see the ball nibble around a bit. Expect a high scoring encounter if USA hold their own with the bat.

Stats and trivia

• This will be the first meeting between England and USA with full international status in any format
• England have played 13 completed T20Is in Bridgetown, winning six (including the 2010 T20 World Cup final) and losing seven
• Sam Curran needs one more wicket to reach 50 in T20Is

Quotes

"We've just got to win the game. We haven't played them before so it'll be a good challenge and we're looking forward to it. The games come thick and fast now so we've got to dust ourselves down and go again. We've had a great win against the West Indies, a great game today which was a shame not to win but we're still in it and looking ahead to the next one."

Jos Buttler readies his troops to go again

"I think every match we play, obviously, representing the country is important. So, we'll definitely go hard against England and try to finish well. Obviously, we can't advance to the next round. But as I say, I think every match you play for your c

ountry is important. So, we're definitely going to try to win the game for sure."

Aaron Jones promises USA will go for it (even if he's given up on the semis)

England find themselves on the edge after their harakiri against South Africa, losing from a definite driver's seat with 25 needed off 18 deliveries with 6 wickets in hand at one point of time. The defending champions are now in a situation where a simple win against the USA may not get them through to the semis.

A win for England and for South Africa (over West Indies) will be enough for the former to qualify. But in case South Africa lose, NRR will come into the picture. However, with the difference in NRRs between the English and the Proteas being around 0.2, barring any Super-Over finishes and ultra close contests, an England win and a South Africa loss should be enough for the former to go through.

England would dearly need Jos Buttler to step up to the plate. Buttler has endured an underwhelming World Cup by his standards, with a highest of 42 in 5 innings. It becomes even more imperative for Buttler to fire if England are put into bat given an early morning start and how menacing USA spearhead Saurabh Netravalkar becomes in those conditions. Mark Wood would look to unsettle the USA batters with his fiery pace, something which they won't be used to at the associate level. The Barbados track might be on the slower side but Wood has shown the ability to take the pitch out of the equation with his fast and full approach in the past.

Steven Taylor's lean patch with the bat hasn't augured well for USA in the World Cup. He dazzled with a 14-ball 24 against South Africa but fell for 2 in the game against the Windies. Nitish Kumar's promotion to number 3 hasn't yielded desired results either. USA will need to sort out their issues at the top of the order to surprise yet another Test nation before they bow out from a historic World Cup run.

Probable Best Performers of the match

Probable Best Batter:

Phil Salt has been in brilliant form since the start of the World Cup. He is the leading run-getter for his side in this tournament with 158 runs after six matches. In the first Super Eight game, he scored an unbeaten 47-ball 87 against West Indies before following it up with an 8-ball 11 versus South Africa. Salt's role as an opener is going to be very crucial against the co-hosts USA.

Probable Best Bowler:

Jofra Archer has bowled with pace and bagged nine wickets in six games at an average of 15.66. He is the highest wicket-taker for his side in the tournament thus far. In the previous game against South Africa, the pacer picked three wickets in a losing cause. His four overs will be key against the USA batters.

Batters To Watch(recent stats)

Phil Salt,  ENG

10 M • 373 Runs • 46.63 Avg • 185.57 SR

Jos Buttler,  ENG

10 M • 297 Runs • 37.13 Avg • 153.09 SR

Andries Gous,  USA

9 M • 265 Runs • 33.13 Avg • 150.56 SR

Aaron Jones,  USA

10 M • 210 Runs • 26.25 Avg • 120.68 SR

Bowlers To Watch(recent stats)

Adil Rashid,  ENG

10 M • 13 Wkts • 7.31 Econ • 16.15 SR

Jofra Archer,  ENG

8 M • 12 Wkts • 7.36 Econ • 13.58 SR

Saurabh Netravalkar,  USA

10 M • 10 Wkts • 6.6 Econ • 19.1 SR

Harmeet Singh,  USA

8 M • 8 Wkts • 6.89 Econ • 21 SR

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