KL Rahul is likely to be removed as LSG captain© BCCI/Sportzpics

Nicholas Pooran smashed an unbeaten 65 from 26 balls as the West Indies defeated an experimental South Africa side by seven wickets in their T20 international at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy Stadium on Friday. West Indies put the visitors in to bat, in the first of the three match series, and made a strong start with the bowl. The Caribbean side limited South Africa to 42-5 from the opening eight overs, with seamer Matthew Forde picking up the wickets of Ryan Rickelton (4) and skipper Aiden Markram (14).

But Tristan Stubbs led the fightback with a superb 76 from 42 balls including three sixes.

Stubbs was well supported by Patrick Kruger who struck 44 from 32 balls as South Africa recovered to 174-7 from their 20 overs.

The game had been delayed for over an hour by heavy rain but as the game went on conditions for batting improved and the home side took full advantage.

West Indies went on the attack from the outset with the opening pair of Alick Athanaze (40) and Shai Hope (51) putting on 84 from the opening wicket before Athinaze was removed in the eighth over, caught by keeper Markram off Ottneil Baartman.

Pooran then took the game away from the Proteas with a brilliant display of power hitting, including smashing Burger for four sixes in a row in the 12th over.

Although South Africa gave themselves some chance with the removal of Hope and skipper Rovman Powell (7) the outcome was never in doubt as the home side passed the target with 13 balls to spare.

The positive note for South Africa was the sight of left-arm seamer Kwena Maphaka — the youngest man to make his international debut for the country at 18 years and 137 days — taking the wicket of Powell.

“He has a lot of X-factor and is really young,” said Markram.

“He has hunger when you speak to him off the field and he wants to win games for South Africa,” he added.

The West Indies opted to field a strong side, against the team that eliminated them from this year’s T20 World Cup, with the aim of building a consistent unit ahead of the next World Cup in 2026 in India and Sri Lanka.

But Powell said the focus needed to remain on the shorter term.

“To be honest, a lot of talk is around the next T20 World Cup but we have to play one game at a time and see different players. We have to stay in the process and the next World Cup is too far away for us,” he said.

The second game in the series will be held at the same venue on Sunday.

The Major League Cricket (MLC) 2024 season commenced on Friday as MI New York began their title defence with a commanding six-wicket win over Seattle Orcas at the Church Street Park Stadium. All eyes were on Nicholas Pooran at Church Street Park in Morrisville as the West Indian wicketkeeper-batter continued his form from the 2023 edition. His unbeaten 62 off just 37 balls helped MI New York chase down a total of 109 runs in just 14.2 overs.

With the early wickets of Ruben Clinton (6) and USA’s national team skipper Monank Patel (8), the initial momentum seemed to be in the Seattle Orcas’ favour. Cameron Gannon was the main bowling aggressor, getting both batters in the third over and giving his team a ray of hope.

But then, Pooran proceeded to hit Gannon for two sixes and as many fours in his next over. This turned the tide in MI New York’s favour.

Eventually, Pooran’s power-hitting abilities proved to be too much for the Seattle Orcas. They got the wickets of Shayan Jahangir (3) and Tim David (12) as well, but the left-handed Pooran and his countryman Kieron Pollard (8*) took their team over the line for their first win of MLC 2024.

Earlier in the day, the skills of the MI New York bowlers were on display as they bowled out the Seattle Orcas for just 108 runs. Rashid Khan and Trent Boult bagged three wickets each, never really allowing their opponents to settle into the match.

New Zealand’s star pacer Boult got the early breakthrough in the opening over itself, sending Nauman Anwar back to the pavilion for a duck. The Pakistan batter’s late attempt to cut the ball away caught a faint edge which travelled to the wicketkeeper and eventual match-winner Pooran.

With Quinton de Kock (5) still at the crease, the Seattle Orcas could still hit a competitive score, but he was also removed by Boult in the next over. His attempt to hit the ball through the leg side was met with a top edge, and Pooran did well to get underneath it and send de Kock back to the pavilion.

From then on, MI New York were in the driving seat, getting the regular wickets. For the Seattle Orcas, Shubham Ranjane ended as the highest run-getter with a tidy innings of 35 runs in 31 balls. Finding the boundary regularly, Ranjane proved to be a threat before he tried to hit Rashid Khan for consecutive sixes but fell short in his second attempt, hitting the ball to Tim David instead.

Harmeet Singh, who recently featured for the USA in the T20 World Cup, played a 20-run cameo as the side set a target that was eventually chased down by the defending champions with 34 balls to spare.

WI vs SA T20 World Cup 2024 LIVE Updates: West Indies final chance in Super 8.© X (Twitter)

West Indies vs South Africa, T20 World Cup 2024 Super 8 Live Streaming: West Indies could see curtains drawn to their 2024 T20 World Cup on home soil, if they lose to South Africa in the final Super 8 game. West Indies currently lie on the same number of points as England, but with a better net run rate, and a loss for the English to the USA would see West Indies and South Africa qualify no matter what. While South Africa come into the game with a 100% win record in the T20 World Cup so far, a big defeat for them, along with a big win for England, could dramatically swing the scales.

When will the West Indies vs South Africa, T20 World Cup 2024 Super 8 match be played?

The West Indies vs South Africa, T20 World Cup 2024 Super 8 match will be played on Monday, June 24 (IST).

Where will the West Indies vs South Africa, T20 World Cup 2024 Super 8 match be played?

The West Indies vs South Africa, T20 World Cup 2024 Super 8 match will be played at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua.

What time will the West Indies vs South Africa, T20 World Cup 2024 Super 8 match start?

The West Indies vs South Africa, T20 World Cup 2024 Super 8 match will start at 6:00 AM IST. The toss will take place at 5:30 AM IST.

Which TV channels will telecast the West Indies vs South Africa, T20 World Cup 2024 Super 8 match?

The West Indies vs South Africa, T20 World Cup 2024 Super 8 match will be telecast in India on the Star Sports Network.

Where to follow the live streaming of the West Indies vs South Africa, T20 World Cup 2024 Super 8 match?

The West Indies vs South Africa, T20 World Cup 2024 Super 8 match will be streamed live on Disney plus Hotstar app and website.

(All the details are as per the information provided by the broadcaster)

Opener Shai Hope blasted an unbeaten 82 as West Indies came back roaring to crush the United States of America by nine wickets in the T20 World Cup Group 2 Super Eight match in Barbados. After bowling out the USA for a mere 128 in 19.5 overs, the West Indies batters went all guns blazing from the word go to knock off the target in 10.5 overs to make 130/1, recording a comfortable win. The win improved West Indies’ standing in the Group 2 points table. 

The Caribbean side, which had suffered an eight-wicket hammering from England on Wednesday, is now placed second with two points and a Net Run Rate of 1.814.

Johnson Charles fell for a 14-ball 15 with a couple of fours early on but the pair of Hope (82 not out) and Nicholas Pooran did the job for their side, smacking the USA bowlers all around the park here at the Kensington Oval.

Hope made a mincemeat of the USA bowling as the right-handed wicketkeeper-batter clattered eight sixes and four fours to make 82 not out from just 39 balls, with Pooran reaching 27 not out from 13 balls with three sixes and a four.

Hope remained at the forefront of WI’s chase as he forged a 67-run stand for the opening partnership with Charles and then added another 63 runs unbeaten for the second wicket with Pooran, which came off only 23 balls as the Caribbean side ruled the roost.

Earlier after the West Indies put USA in to bat first, Andre Russell (3.5-0-31-3) and Roston Chase (4-0-19-3) made life tough for the opposition batters.

After an early blow in the form of Steven Taylor (2) who was caught at point by chase of Russell, the pair of Andreis Gous and Nitish Kumar (20) forged a strong partnership to revive USA and take them ahead but they both fell after making their respective starts.

Nitish was trapped leg-before by West Indies spinner Gudakesh Motie for 20 off 19 balls with two fours and Gous, who hit three fours and a six in his rapid 29 off 16 balls, was caught at deep midwicket by Hope off Alzarri Joseph in the eighth over and that was when USA’s decline began.

None of the following USA batters could trouble the West Indies as the tournament co-hosts kept chipping away with regular wickets, denying their opponents any momentum with the bat.

USA skipper Aaron Jones (11) was cleaned up by Chase who looked unplayable. Chase grabbed another wicket when he had the veteran Corey Anderson trapped leg-before for seven.

Harmeet Singh, who had provided fireworks with the bat for the USA against South Africa in the last match, fell for a first-ball duck when Chase had him caught by Charles to ensure West Indies remained on top of the proceedings. 

USA vs West Indies, T20 World Cup 2024 Super 8 Live Streaming: England face South Africa in a virtual quarter-final in the Super 8 stage of the 2024 T20 World Cup. Both sides won their opening games; South Africa outclassed USA, while England chased down 181 in just 17.3 overs against West Indies. Both sides will breathe a sigh of relief, as their openers returned to form. Phil Salt finally scored big, devastating the Windies bowling with a 47-ball 87, while Quinton de Kock scored 74 off 40 balls. However, England might head into the game in St. Lucia with a slight edge, having played their opening group game in the same venue.

When will the USA vs West Indies, T20 World Cup 2024 Super 8 match be played?

The USA vs West Indies, T20 World Cup 2024 Super 8 match will be played on Saturday, June 22 (IST).

Where will the USA vs West Indies, T20 World Cup 2024 Super 8 match be played?

The USA vs West Indies, T20 World Cup 2024 Super 8 match will be played at the Kensington Oval, Barbados.

What time will the USA vs West Indies, T20 World Cup 2024 Super 8 match start?

The USA vs West Indies, T20 World Cup 2024 Super 8 match will start at 6:00 AM IST. The toss will take place at 5:30 AM IST.

Which TV channels will telecast the USA vs West Indies, T20 World Cup 2024 Super 8 match?

The USA vs West Indies, T20 World Cup 2024 Super 8 match will be telecast in India on the Star Sports Network.

Where to follow the live streaming of the USA vs West Indies, T20 World Cup 2024 Super 8 match?

The USA vs West Indies, T20 World Cup 2024 Super 8 match will be streamed live on Disney plus Hotstar app and website.

(All the details are as per the information provided by the broadcaster)

Preview:

The sixth match of the Super Eight stage in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 will feature a face-off between co-hosts the USA and the West Indies. This exciting encounter is scheduled to take place at the iconic Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados on June 22, 2024, starting at 06:00 AM IST. Here’s a look at their journey so far and key players to watch out for

Match Details:

Fixture: USA vs West Indies (Super Eight – Match 6)

Date: June 22, 2024

Time: 06:00 AM IST

Venue: Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados

Recent Performances:

USA:

The USA team has played five matches in the tournament so far and is currently ranked third on the Super Eight Group Two points table. In their last match, they faced a tough opponent in South Africa and were narrowly defeated by 18 runs. Despite the loss, Harmeet Singh emerged as the top fantasy player for the USA, earning 120 fantasy points for his performance.

West Indies:

The West Indies team has also competed in five matches, holding the fourth position on the points table. Their recent outing against England ended in a disappointing 8-wicket loss. However, Johnson Charles stood out as the top fantasy player for the West Indies, accumulating 60 fantasy points with his efforts.

Key Players:

West Indies

Johnson Charles:

Johnson Charles is a pivotal opening right-handed batter for the West Indies. In his last five matches, he has amassed 125 runs, averaging 25 runs per match. His consistent performances at the top of the order are crucial for setting a solid foundation for the team.

Akeal Hosein:

Akeal Hosein, a slow left-arm orthodox bowler, has been in exceptional form, taking nine wickets in his last five matches with an impressive average of 11. Hosein’s prowess is particularly notable at the Kensington Oval, where he has claimed nine wickets in seven innings, making him a significant threat to the opposition.

Nicholas Pooran:

Nicholas Pooran, a talented left-handed top-order batter and wicket-keeper, has been a key player for the West Indies. Over the last five matches, Pooran has scored 200 runs, averaging 40 per match. His ability to anchor the innings while also accelerating the scoring rate makes him a vital asset to the team.

USA:

Shayan Jahangir:

Shayan Jahangir, an opening right-handed batter, has scored 31 runs in his last five T20 matches. Jahangir’s role at the top of the order is crucial for providing stability and setting the pace for the USA’s innings.

Jessy Singh:

Jessy Singh, a right-arm medium bowler, has struggled recently, taking only one wicket in his last five matches. Singh will be looking to improve his performance and make a greater impact in the upcoming matches.

Harmeet Singh:

Harmeet Singh, a slow left-arm orthodox bowler, has taken three wickets in his last five matches. Despite these modest figures, Harmeet has shown potential and will be aiming to enhance his wicket-taking ability to support his team better.

Conclusion:

This match promises to be an exciting contest as both teams look to improve their standings in the Super Eight stage. Fans can expect a thrilling game with key performances from both sides at the historic Kensington Oval.

Phil Salt slammed a belligerent unbeaten 87 as defending champions England began their T20 World Cup Super Eights campaign with a crushing eight-wicket win over the West Indies in St Lucia. Coming off a scorching display against Afghanistan, West Indies amassed a competitive 180 for four, but England waltzed to 181 for two in 17.3 overs in their Group 2 match. Salt led their charge with a bruising innings that came off 47 balls with seven fours and five sixes. The opener received copious help from Jonny Bairstow (48*).

But equal amount of credit should be given to the English bowlers too for producing as many as 51 dot balls with Jofra Archer (1/34) and Adil Rashid (1/21) accounting for 22 of them in their tidy spells.

Salt made full use of his reprieve by Nicholas Pooran on seven to cart the Windies bowlers around in the company of Bairstow as the Englishmen together milked 97 runs from 44 balls for the third wicket, while negotiating the hosts’ spin attack in the middle overs.

After a sedate start, England broke loose in the second over when skipper Jos Buttler struck two boundaries off Romario Sheperd to take 12 runs. Salt then came to his own, hammering an Andre Russell slower one for a six.

The duo continued their assault and Salt finished the power play smashing Alzarri Joseph for a four and a six to lift England to 58 for no loss in six overs, the best powerplay score by any team against the Caribbeans in this tournament.

Off-spinner Roston Chase finally gave the breakthrough when he noticed Buttler stepping forward and speared in a 108.9 kph delivery to catch the England skipper off guard.

The ball hit him hard and low on the front pad to be trapped leg before but it was a minor aberration as England pressed forward with determination towards a win.

Earlier, Windies got off to a splendid start as Brandon King and Johnson Charles opened with authority. The pair had the Windies flying at 40 for no loss in the fifth over, before they were hit with a cruel blow.

Attempting to drive Sam Curran down the ground, King (23; 13b) picked up what appeared to be a side strain and had to retire hurt.

The in-form Pooran joined Charles at the crease, lifting them to 54 in the power-play Pooran smoked Mark Wood for a leg-side six to start the eighth over, but England managed to tighten the screws after the drinks.

That was the final boundary before the mid-innings break.

Charles then ended a brief lull by smashing Rashid for a six.

But in the next over, England struck with Moeen Ali dismissing Charles (38; 34b), who holed out to Harry Brook at long-on.

Captain Rovman Powell took on off-spinner Ali with a maximum and went on to smash Liam Livingstone for three sixes in five balls in a 20-run over.

But Livingstone had the last laugh, picking up the crucial wicket of Powell (36 off 17) off his last delivery.

The English found some fight in the final five overs.

Archer found the edge of Pooran’s bat, as the heavy hitter removed for 36 off 32. Rutherford then dominated the strike in the last few overs to lift their total but that was not enough for them. 

Several records were broken during the T20 World Cup 2024, Group C match between West Indies and Afghanistan on Tuesday. Asked to bat first, West Indies posted 218/5 in 20 overs with Nicholas Pooran playing a blistering knock of 98 off 53 balls. So far, this was the highest total in the ongoing T20 World Cup. However, the main highlight of the innings was Pooran’s entry into elite list of batters, who smashed 36 runs in an over in a World Cup match.

The memorable feat achieved in the fourth over, when Pooran unleashed his fury on Afghanistan all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai.

In that over, the 28-year-old batter smashed three sixes and three boundaries. To make things worse, Omarzai ended bowling one no-ball, where Pooran again smashed a boundary. Later, he also leaked five runs from wide. 

This was the second time in 2024 that 36 runs were scored in an over against Afghanistan. Earlier this year, the Indian duo of Rohit Sharma and Rinku Singh also achieved the same feat, when they thrashed Karim Janat. 

Apart from this, the Caribbean side registered the record for the highest powerplay score in the history of the T20 World Cup. They scored 92 in the first six overs and surpassed the previous record of 91 runs set by the Netherlands against Ireland in 2014 in Bangladesh’s Sylhet International Stadium.

England is ranked third in the list of powerplay scoring, having scored 89 runs against South Africa at Mumbai’s iconic Wankhede Stadium in 2016.

Talking about the overall stats, this was the fourth highest powerplay score in the history of T20Is. The highest score was 102/0, registered by South Africa against West Indies in 2023. 

Pooran also registered the highest individual score in the ongoing T20 World Cup. The 28-year-old batter scored 98 in 53 balls to help his team reach a dangerous 218-run total in the final group game before the Super Eight phase.

The wicketkeeper-batter broke the previous mark of 94 not out set by Aaron Jones of the United States versus Canada.

(With ANI Inputs)