The West Indies soared to a massive 9-wicket win over fellow ICC Men’s T20 World Cup hosts, the USA, courtesy of a gem of an innings from opener Shai Hope and an inspired spell of 3/19 from man of the match Roston Chase.
The victory in Barbados by 9-wickets with 9.1 overs to spare also gave their semi-final hopes a shot in the arm with a much improved Net Run Rate (NRR), critical to their qualification effort.
Rovman Powell won the toss at the Kensington Oval and inserted co-hosts USA to bat, bowling them out for 128 in 19.5 overs.
It was a markedly better bowling effort from their previous game, with Roston Chase and Alzarri Joseph leading the way.
Aside from a fighting 29 (16 balls, 4sx3, 6sx1) from Andries Gous no other American batsman really stood up as the West Indies bowlers succeeded in stifling them and consistently took wickets.
Chase in particular was outstanding and even snared two wickets in consecutive deliveries, ending with 3/19 (4 overs) while Andre Russell captured 3/31 from 3.5 overs to support him. There was also two wickets for Alzarri Joseph and one for Gudakesh Motie.
After their loss against England on Wednesday, the team’s semifinal push was dented and with South Africa beating the English men, the West Indies needed to thrash the USA, a task Hope took seriously, smashing his highest T20 International score, a belligerent but classy 39-ball 82 not out, carrying the West Indies to 130/1 in just 10.5 overs. Fittingly he ended the chase with a towering six off Saurabh Netravalkar.
Johnson Charles (15) was the only casualty of the innings, out caught off the bowling of Harmeet Singh. The big win means that the West Indies with a win and a loss, now have two points, and have overtaken England courtesy of a superior NRR. The West Indies NRR is 1.814 while England’s own is 0.412.
South Africa are top of the group on four points amd the West Indies need a win over the group leaders on Sunday night to secure a semifinal berth.
