The West Indies have stored their hopes of progressing to the T20 World Cup semi-finals alive with a crushing win over the USA to all however finish the match’s Cinderella story’s marketing campaign.
Led by a swashbuckling unbeaten 82 from promoted opener Shai Hope, who changed the injured Brandon King on the prime of the order, the Windies made gentle work of the People’ below-par 128 in Barbados, chasing down the goal with 55 balls to spare in an emphatic response to their humbling loss to England within the first recreation of their Tremendous 8s stage.
It was the spinners who did the lion’s share of the harm with the ball, Roston Chase (3/19) working via the USA center order with the wickets of appearing captain Aaron Jones, then former New Zealand worldwide Corey Anderson and Harmeet Singh in successive balls.
In-form opener Andries Gous top-scored for the innings with 29, however after being bowled out with one ball nonetheless remaining of their 20 overs, their tally was by no means going to be sufficient as soon as Hope and Nicholas Pooran (27 off 12) acquired going.
Hope bludgeoned eight sixes in a exceptional onslaught to do his possibilities of retaining the opener’s spot for the rest of the match no hurt, ending on 82 off 39 balls and hitting the successful runs into the Bridgetown stands.
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The thumping win boosts the West Indies’ internet run price to 1.814, far and away the best in Group 2 forward of the undefeated South Africa (0.625) and 1-1 England (0.412), and makes the hosts’ equation easy: defeat the Proteas of their remaining Tremendous 8s recreation, and a semi-final spot might be theirs.
Lose, although, and England must be surprised by the USA to allow them to sneak into the penultimate stage.
The USA, in the meantime, might want to destroy England of their remaining match whereas hoping the Proteas do likewise to the Windies – although even that doubtless received’t be sufficient to salvage their dismal internet run price.
Earlier, Quinton de Kock hammered a second straight half-century whereas Anrich Nortje bowled a good remaining over to assist South Africa edge England by seven runs and transfer nearer to a semi-final berth within the T20 World Cup in St Lucia.
Put in to bat first, South Africa began properly of their Tremendous 8 conflict on Friday with an 86-run partnership between de Kock (65 off 38) and Reeza Hendricks (19).
They posted a aggressive 6-163 regardless of some sluggish overs within the center due to a late David Miller cameo (43 off 28).
Defending champions England then misplaced opener Phil Salt early in the course of the chase whereas Jos Buttler (17) and Jonny Bairstow (16) fell quickly after.
Harry Brook (53) and Liam Livingstone (33) placed on a 78-run partnership from 52 balls that acquired England shut, with a second win in three days looming, however with 14 runs wanted from the final over, they fell quick.
“We all know we’re nonetheless in it,” stated England skipper Jos Buttler.
“We performed properly immediately. We simply didn’t fairly recover from the road. At one stage we have been favourites but it surely doesn’t work like that in T20 cricket. South Africa closed it out properly.”
Champions England will kick themselves for an absence of timing and intent earlier of their pursuit, with a paltry return of three fours and one six of their first 11 overs on the crease.
South Africa at the moment are prime of their group with 4 factors from two matches. England, second with two factors, can nonetheless qualify for the semis after they play the USA in Barbados on Sunday, the identical day the Proteas face hosts West Indies.
with AAP
