England storm into T20 World Cup semis with 10-wicket rout of USA

NEW DELHI: A superb spell from Adil Rashid and a sensational hat-trick from Chris Jordan were followed by a Jos Buttler carnage as reigning champions England qualified for the 2024 T20 World Cup semis, hammering the United States by 10 wickets in their concluding Super Eights match in Barbados on Sunday.
Chris Jordan (2.5-0-10-4) took four wickets in five balls after Rashid’s (4-0-13-2) choked the USA batters as England bowled out the co-hosts for a lowly 115.
Captain Buttler then smashed a blistering 83 not out as England raced to 117 for 0 in 9.4 overs to guarantee a place in the last four.
Making a comeback in place of Mark Wood, Jordan mopped up the USA tail by claiming four wickets in five balls, including the hat-trick, in the 19th over as the Americans folded in 18.5 overs.
Jordan became the first Englishman to take a hat-trick at the T20 World Cup.
As It Happened
Buttler’s explosive 83 not out off 38 balls, featuring seven sixes and six fours, then led England to victory, making them the first team to secure a semis berth this edition.
Buttler’s scintillating knock included hitting five sixes in one over off Harmeet Singh, rendering the USA bowling attack helpless. During England’s chase, Buttler showcased his hard-hitting prowess, leaving a lasting impact on the game.
Earlier in the match, the 35-year-old Jordan, originally from Christ Church, Barbados, made a significant contribution.
In the penultimate over, Jordan started by dismissing a well-set Corey Anderson for 29 with a low full toss. After Ali Khan survived the next ball, Jordan knocked over his off stump, then went on to remove Nosthush Kenjige and Saurabh Netravalkar off successive deliveries, achieving a hat-trick.
Jordan’s feat made him the second bowler in T20 World Cup history to take four wickets in a single over, following Curtis Campher of Ireland who accomplished the same against the Netherlands in the 2021 edition in Abu Dhabi.
The USA suffered a dramatic collapse triggered by Sam Curran, who took 2/13, including the crucial wicket of Harmeet Singh in the final ball of the previous over. This collapse saw USA lose five wickets in six balls without adding any runs.
Earlier in the innings, Adil Rashid registered a tight 2/13 in four overs, keeping the USA batters in check. Andries Gous hit Topley for a six but fell shortly after, caught by Phil Salt at deep square leg.
USA faced early nerves when Steven Taylor narrowly survived a run out, thanks to a missed throw from Liam Livingstone. At the other end, Nitish Kumar capitalized on his opportunity, top-edging a delivery from Jofra Archer for six and hitting another maximum over long-on off Topley.
Curran’s introduction as the first change soon paid off, as Taylor was caught brilliantly by Moeen Ali at backward point, marking Curran’s 50th wicket in T20 internationals. USA’s skipper Aaron Jones quickly added a boundary through the third-man region, helping the team to 48 for two at the end of the powerplay.
Rashid’s entry into the attack was impactful, conceding only two runs in his first over. He delivered a beautiful googly in his next, bowling out Jones and curtailing the USA captain’s innings.
Rashid then employed another effective googly to end Nitish’s promising knock, who had hit two sixes and a four. The partnerships struggled to form as Livingstone had Milind Kumar caught behind, reducing USA to 88 for five by the end of the 14th over.
Corey Anderson and Harmeet Singh attempted to revive the innings, bringing up the team’s 100 in the 17th over. Anderson and Singh added some valuable runs, with Singh hitting a six and a four off Curran, but his dismissal in the last ball of the over initiated a rapid downfall.