By Rex Clementine
England may have had a challenging time to qualify for the second round of the ICC T-20 World Cup, but they have been quite convincing in the Super Eight stage and became the first team to qualify for the semi-finals of the event with a comprehensive ten wicket win over co-hosts USA.
Chris Jordan made a memorable return to the side with a hat-trick in the 19th over of the innings that enabled England to restrict USA to 115 in 18.5 overs.
At 115 for six, with Corey Anderson out in the middle, USA were looking to post a competitive total heading into the last two overs. But Jordan claimed four wickets in an over to leave the USA innings in disarray.
Jordan was born and grew up in Barbados and it was grand homecoming for the local hero.
It was a remarkable collapse as USA lost five wickets for no runs. From 115 for five, they were bowled out for 115 in the space of six deliveries. The last four USA batters were dismissed for ducks as Barbados witnessed remarkable scenes.
England were aware that run rate will become an issue if West Indies beat South Africa later in the day. Hence, Phil Salt and Jos Buttler went after the bowling from ball one and the defending champions reached the target inside ten overs to boost their Net Run Rate to 1.99.
Jos Buttler hammered 83 in 38 balls with six fours and seven sixes with one of those hits damaging the solar panel in the ground. Phil Salt was unbeaten on 25 off 21 balls.
The ninth over of the innings bowled by Harmeet Singh went for 32 runs with Buttler smashing four sixes in the over.
Although Buttler and Jordan made big impacts in the game Man of the Match award went to Adil Rashid with the batters struggling to pick the leg-spinner. Rashid’s wrong’un cast doubts in batters as he picked up the wickets of Aaron Jones and Nitish Kumar. His four overs went for 13 runs.
USA started off the competition well having beaten Pakistan in the Super Over. Pakistan were knocked out from the second round after that loss.
USA did test India and South Africa in the remaining games, but their last two games were disappointments as they suffered a nine wicket loss at the hands of West Indies followed by the ten wicket defeat to England.
