Liam Livingstone said he is thriving on extra responsibility up the order after his 87 levelled England’s T20 international series with Australia at 1-1 on Friday with one match to play. Australia had posted a big total of 193/6 thanks to Jake Fraser-McGurk‘s first international 50 and contributions from captain Travis Head (31) and Josh Inglis (42). But Livingstone had a starring role with both bat and ball to set up a winner takes all clash for the series in Manchester on Sunday.

In his 50th T20 international, the spinner was the pick of the England bowlers with 2-16 despite only bowling three overs.

He then came to the crease with the hosts 34-2 inside four overs.

Stand-in captain Phil Salt‘s 39 off 23 deliveries helped his side rebuild but it was a blistering 90-run partnership off 47 balls between Livingstone and Jacob Bethell that swung the game England’s way.

“It is not easy coming in a five, six or seven. So moving up the order it gives me a bit more responsibility, time to bat, and I feel I am in decent nick at the moment with bat and ball,” said Livingstone, who has been hampered by injuries in recent years.

“Towards the end of the Hundred I felt I was getting my body back to normal, which is a thing that has bothered me the last couple of years.

“It has taught me a few life lessons but I am enjoying my cricket and playing with a smile on my face.”

Bethell departed for 44 on just his second international but Livingstone remained at the crease until the scores were tied.

Livingstone was denied hitting the winning runs when he was bowled by Matt Short, who took 5-22, but Adil Rashid‘s single saw England over the line with six balls to spare.

Earlier, England looked set for a chase in excess of 200 as the tourists made another rapid start with Head smashing his 31 off just 14 balls.

Australia were cruising along at 119-2 in the 13th over before Fraser-McGurk’s flashy innings came to an end when he was caught off the bowling of Livingstone.

Just like in the opening game of the series, which Australia won by 28 runs, it was left to the English spin attacking to limit the damage.

“Good score, felt like we were right in the hunt and we were close,” said Head, who was standing in for the ill Mitch Marsh as skipper

File photo of Phil Salt© AFP

USA vs England, T20 World Cup 2024 Super 8 Live Streaming: England will be squaring off against USA in their last Super 8 match of the T20 World Cup 2024 on Sunday in Barbados. This match is a must-win one for both the teams, especially England as they have a stronger chance of making it to the semi-finals. The Jos Buttler-led side will be coming to this clash after facing a shocking seven-run defeat against South Africa in a thrilling encounter. On the other hand, USA got thrashed by West Indies by 9 wickets. England have registered one victory in the Super 8s while USA lost have lost both their opening games. 

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

The USA vs England, T20 World Cup 2024 Super 8 match will be played on Sunday, June 23 (IST).

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

The USA vs England, T20 World Cup 2024 Super 8 match will be played at the Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados 

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

The USA vs England, T20 World Cup 2024 Super 8 match will start at 8:00 PM IST. The toss will take place at 7:30 AM IST.

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

The USA vs England, 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 England, T20 World Cup 2024 Super 8 match?

The USA vs England, 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)

England vs South Africa: Super Eight – Match 5 Preview

Super Eight – Match 5 of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, 2024, features England taking on South Africa. This match is set to take place at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in Gros Islet, St Lucia, on June 21 at 08:00 PM IST.

Match Background

England comes into this match with a strong performance, having defeated West Indies by eight wickets in their first Super Eight game. Similarly, South Africa emerged victorious against the USA, winning by 18 runs.

The last time these two teams met in a T20I was in July 2022, during South Africa’s tour of England, where David Willey and Tabraiz Shamsi were the standout performers for their respective teams.

Head-to-Head

In their 25 T20I encounters, England’s bowlers have generally outperformed, contributing the most fantasy points, while South Africa’s batters have been the primary point earners for their side. This match will test the skills and strategies of both teams as they vie for a crucial win.

Key Players to Watch

Philip Salt (ENG)

Philip Salt, a top-order right-handed batter and wicketkeeper, has scored 147 runs in his last five matches, showing consistent performance. His ability to score quickly at the top will be crucial for England.

Adil Rashid (ENG)

Adil Rashid, England’s leg-break bowler, has taken six wickets in his last five matches. His knack for taking wickets in the middle overs makes him a key player for England’s bowling attack.

Sam Curran (ENG)

Sam Curran, a versatile all-rounder, has scored 91 runs and taken four wickets in his last five matches. His contributions with both bat and ball will be vital for England’s success.

Ottneil Baartman (SA)

Ottneil Baartman, a right-arm medium-fast bowler, has been impressive with eight wickets in his last five games at an average of 11.6. His ability to strike early will be crucial for South Africa.

Tristan Stubbs (SA)

Tristan Stubbs, a right-handed batter, has shown potential with scores of 20, 27, 0, 33 and 13 in his last five matches. His middle-order stability will be important for South Africa.

Tabraiz Shamsi (SA)

Tabraiz Shamsi, a slow left-arm chinaman bowler, has taken six wickets in his last four matches at an average of 15.8. His spin bowling will be key in restricting England’s scoring rate.

England (ENG) will be playing against Pakistan (PAK) in the 2nd game of the Pakistan in England, four-match T20I Series, 2024. The match will be played at the Edgbaston, Birmingham, on Saturday. In their last five games, Pakistan have won three games and lost two. England, on the other hand, won two games and lost three. Both teams last played against each other in the Final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, Australia, 2022, where Ben Stokes scored the highest fantasy points for England with 104 points while Haris Rauf topped the fantasy points leaderboard for Pakistan with 59 points.

Pitch Report and Weather Conditions

The pitch at Edgbaston, Birmingham, is balanced. The average first-innings score at this venue in the last 20 matches is 158 runs. The team batting first at this venue has won 65% of its matches. We predict that the team winning the toss will bat first here.

Pace or Spin?

The pacers have been very successful at this venue. They have taken 67% of the total wickets at this venue. We would suggest that you pick as many pace bowlers as possible in your team.

Weather Report

The temperature is expected to be around 17 degree C with 53% humidity. Winds at a speed of 4.52 m/s are expected. Light rain is forecasted which may affect playing conditions.

Head-to-Head

In the 29 matches played between these two teams, the all-rounders of both teams have earned the most fantasy points for their respective teams so far.

Fantasy Top Captain and Vice-Captain Picks

Shaheen Afridi

Shaheen Afridi can be a safe pick for your fantasy Team. He has an average of 85 fantasy points in the last 10 games and a fantasy rating of 9.6. He bowls left-arm fast and in the last five matches, he has taken 11 wickets.

Will Jacks

Will Jacks has an average of 65 fantasy points in the last 10 games, a fantasy rating of 7.5 and can be a high-risk, high-returns pick for your Dream11 Team. He is a top-order, right-handed batter. In the recent five matches, he has scored 160 runs.

Sam Curran

Sam Curran is a consistent player in terms of fantasy points. He has an average of 61 fantasy points in the last 10 games and a fantasy rating of 7.8. Sam is a left-handed batter. In the recent five matches, he has scored 118 runs. He also bowls decently, bowling left-arm medium-fast and in recent matches, he has taken five wickets.

Babar Azam

Babar Azam is a fairly consistent player in terms of fantasy points. He has an average of 57 fantasy points in the last 10 games and a fantasy rating of 9.1. He is a top-order, right-handed batter. In the last 5 matches, he has scored 206 runs averaging 41.2.

Mohammad Rizwan

Mohammad Rizwan is a fairly consistent player in terms of fantasy points. He has an average of 55 fantasy points in the last 10 games and a fantasy rating of 8.5. Rizwan is a top-order, right-handed batter and also keeps wickets. In the last 5 matches, he has scored 199 runs at an average of 99.5 per match.

Shadab Khan

Shadab Khan is a key inclusion to your Dream11 Fantasy Team. He has an average of 55 fantasy points in the last 10 games and a fantasy rating of 7.9. He is a right-handed batter. In the recently played five matches, he has scored 63 runs. He also bowls decently, bowling leg-break and in recent matches, he has taken three wickets.

Jos Buttler

Jos Buttler is a wicket-keeper with an average of 52 fantasy points in the last 10 games, a fantasy rating of 7.9 and can be a good pick for your Dream11 Team. He is a top-order, right-handed batter and also keeps wickets. In the last five matches, Buttler has scored 109 runs at an average of 21.8 per match.

Hasan Ali

Hasan Ali is a bowler with an average of 47 fantasy points in the last 10 games, a fantasy rating of 7.6, and a fairly consistent player in terms of fantasy points. He bowls right-arm medium-fast and in the last five matches, he has taken three wickets.

Adil Rashid

Adil Rashid is a bowler with an average of 45 fantasy points in the last 10 games, a fantasy rating of 6.9 and is a very inconsistent player in terms of fantasy points and can be a differential pick in your team. He bowls leg-break and in the recently played five matches, he has taken six wickets.

Fantasy Team

Wicket-Keepers: Mohammad Rizwan, Phil Salt and Jos Buttler

Batters: Babar Azam, Saim Ayub and Will Jacks

All-Rounders: Shadab Khan, Sam Curran and Liam Livingstone

Bowlers: Shaheen Afridi and Adil Rashid

Captain: Jos Buttler

Vice-Captain: Mohammad Rizwan

England vs Pakistan 1st T20I, Live Updates© X (Twitter)

Sam Curran in action for Punjab Kings© AFP

Skipper Sam Curran played the lead act hitting a well-paced fifty and taking two wickets, as Punjab Kings consigned Rajasthan Royals to a five-wicket defeat in their IPL match in Guwahati on Wednesday. The target was a mere 145, but Kings made heavy weather of it on a sluggish track here but Curran (63 not out, 41b, 5×4, 3×6) had a calm head and skills to lift them to their fifth win of the season. PBKS made 145/5 in 18.5 overs. The Englishman received good support from Jitesh Sharma (22, 20b) as the pair added 63 runs in a fluent fifth wicket partnership.

For Royals, it was their fourth defeat on the trot, but they remained second on the table with 16 points with a qualification to the playoffs to boot with.

The Kings’ chase began on a shaky note as they lost Prabhsimran Singh in the first over itself to Trent Boult.

But bigger jolts were in store as an impressive Avesh Khan (2/28) scalped two wickets in the fifth over.

The right-arm pacer first plucked the important wicket of Rilee Rossouw, who played some strong shots in his 13-ball 22, and then jettisoned in-form Shashank Singh for a two-ball naught.

Shashank failed to connect a fuller, straighter one from Avesh while attempting a flick, and the 141 kmph delivery thudded on his bat. Shashank did not even bother to use DRS as he walked away.

Punjab gained some ground through the alliance between Curran and Jitesh, who smoked R Ashwin for two sixes.

Curran too gave a dose of punishment to the veteran offie, lofting him for a wonderful six over extra cover.

But the blossoming stand was snapped by Yuzvendra Chahal (2/31), leaving PBKS at 111 for five in the 16th over.

However, Curran and Ashutosh Sharma (17 not out, 11 balls) knocked off the remaining runs without further drama.

Earlier, despite a well-tuned 48 from local hero Riyan Parag, RR struggled against an array of accurate bowlers on a rather slow pitch, meandering to a sub-par 144 for nine.

R Ashwin (28, 19b, 3×4, 1×6) and Parag (48, 34, 6×4) tried to accelerate during their 50-run stand for the fourth wicket but it could only bring in a temporary momentum for RR.

In fact, lethargy had set in very early in the Rajasthan innings after the early loss of Jaiswal, who chopped a Curran (2/24) delivery back on to his stumps.

Sanju Samson (18), who went past 500-run in a season for the first time in his IPL career, and Tom-Kohler Cadmore (18, 23b) stitched 36 runs for the second wicket but took six overs for it.

But with Curran and Arshdeep finding a hint of swing and maintaining a good line, scoring was not an easy proposition for the RR batters.

Eventually, Samson, who tried a hopping cut off pacer Nathan Ellis, gave a simple catch to Rahul Chahar at point in the seventh over.

Cadmore too returned to the dugout in the next over, as his almighty heave off leg-spinner Chahar (2/26) could not progress beyond Jitesh in the deep.

Those twin dismissals actually paved the way for the best phase in the Royals’ innings as Ashwin and Parag pressed their foot on the right pedal.

Ashwin displayed his batting skills, smashing Chahar for 17 runs in the 12th over that included a sequence of 6, 4, 4 and the first four was a stunning reverse scoop over backward point.

But he could not further extend his innings, lofting Arshdeep to Shashank.

Parag, usually a free-flowing batter, had to curb his flair in front of a hugely adoring home crowd because of the regular fall of wickets at the other end.

But a late cut off Curran that sped to third man stood as a testament of his ability and timing as he also moved past the 500-run mark for the season, before getting trapped in front of the wicket by Harshal Patel.

However, apart from conquering those little peaks the RR batters failed to slip into the top gear consistently.