USA vs England, ICC Men's T20 World Cup, 2024 Full score card

FOUR! Jos Buttler finishes off in style and hits the winning runs! England cruise to the semifinals. And it is the English skipper who has led from the front mercilessly with the bat. Shadley van Schalkwyk bowls it outside off on a fuller length and keeps it away from the batter, Jos Buttler throws the kitchen-sink at it and extends his arms, getting the slice of the willow that guns away through backward point for a boundary.

Keeps it at the stumps, on a length, Phil Salt hits it down to long on for one more run.

Serves it full now, around off, Jos Buttler extends his hands and pushes it to deep extra cover for a single.

Bowls it on a back of a length, over middle, Phil Salt swivels and pulls it in front of square on the leg side for a single.

SIX! Absolute carnage this! Fifth six of the over! Lands it on a good length, at the stumps, Jos Buttler takes his front foot away from the line and punishes it over long on for a six. 32 runs from this over.

WIDE! He is under enormous pressure! Flat and wide of off, beyond the guideline. Wided.

SIX! Merciless destruction! 100 up for England in the 9th over itself. Full and onto the pads this time, Jos Buttler bends low again and this time he slogs it across the line of the ball and deposits it behind deep mid-wicket.

SIX! This is majestic and effortless batting from Jos Buttler. Harmeet Singh serves a juicy half volley on the stumps, Jos Buttler clears his front leg and slams it downtown for the fourth consecutive six.

SIX! Buttler wants this done quickly! Shade short in length, and angling on the off and middle, Jos Buttler bends low, and transfers his weight on the back foot and pulls it well over deep square leg for another six.

SIX! 50 for the English skipper in style! Length ball and outside off, Jos Buttler reads the length early, charges down the track and flatly lifts it over long off for a biggie.

Flatter and quicker on the middle, Phil Salt tucks it with a horizontal bat towards long on for a single.

Short in length, slower and angling on the pads, Phil Salt swivels early for the pull shot and mistimes it off the inner half of the bat towards widish short fine for a single.

Full and wide of off, Jos Buttler caresses it through covers for one.

Keeps it nice! Wide yorker outside off, Jos Buttler fails to connect the shot.

NO BALL! Oh, dear! That's wayward from Shadley van Schalkwyk. Tries to hurl a back-of-the-hand slower one but slips it above the waist height and down the leg side. Buttler swings and misses. Free Hit to follow.

Good length, outside off, Phil Salt hangs back and pulls it towards deep square leg for a single.

FOUR! Hammered away! Back of a length, around off, Phil Salt stays leg side and stands upright before hammering it through the covers and beats the fielder in the deep who dives to his right for a boundary.

Starts from over the wicket and nails in a yorker with a scrambled seam, and in front of the stumps. Phil Salt shovels it out back to the bowler.

Good length, around the off stump, Phil Salt stays tall and punches it on the up through the cover-point gap for a single to retain the strike.

Angles it onto the pads on a length, Phil Salt flicks but gets an inside edge that rolls towards the mid-wicket region and hurries back for the second by the time the fielder picks it up.

WIDE! Sprays it full but way down the leg side. Phil Salt swipes across but misses. Wide given.

Gets the yorker in, on middle, Jos Buttler drills it down to long off for a single.

A low full toss on the leg stump from Ali Khan, Jos Buttler whips it to the left of deep square leg for a brace.

Back of a length, on the leg stump, Phil Salt punches to long on for one.

Good length and outside off, Phil Salt cuts it past backward point and scampers for the second as Corey Anderson fumbles and eventually throws it to the keeper. Andries Gous collects it, turns around and quickly throws it at the bowler's end. He misses the shy and the ball rolls to long on but the batters stay content with two.

Serves it full and on middle and leg, Jos Buttler sweeps it wide of deep square leg for a couple of runs.

Good length, on the middle, Jos Buttler tucks it to square leg.

FOUR! Gets it through again! Full and around off, Jos Buttler improvises and reverse sweeps it past backward point for a boundary.

FOUR! That has been a productive area for Buttler and also, a poor effort from the fielder! Drops it on a length, on middle and quicker as well. Jos Buttler shimmies ahead and slams it downtown for a boundary. The ball evades the long off fielder and breaches into the fence.

In the air...but safe! 50 up for England in no time! Short and on the middle, Phil Salt miscues the pull behind mid on for a single.

Nosthush Kenjige continues from around the wicket, flattens the trajectory as Jos Buttler charges ahead and cramps him for room on the leg stump line. Jos Buttler can only block it back to the bowler.

FOUR! Creamed away! Too full by Ali, outside off, Phil Salt picks up the length early and cracks the drive through covers for a boundary. An expensive start by Ali, 16 runs off the over. The USA just cannot afford their key bowlers to start badly.

Strays on the pads, on a back of a length, Phil Salt gets on his toes and flicks it wide of deep square leg for a couple of runs.

Lands it on a hard length, on off, Phil Salt punches it off the back foot but finds the man at cover.

Ali steams in with a long on in place and goes full, at the stumps, knocked down to the man at long on there by Buttler for a single.

FOUR! Jos Buttler looks in the mood! Ali serves it on a length, angling in, on middle and leg, Jos Buttler gives the bowler the charge and hits through the line and gets it way over mid on for a boundary.

Into the wicket, on off, Jos Buttler hops back and stabs it down the deck.

FIVE WIDES! This has gone horribly wrong for Ali Khan! Tries the yorker first up but gets the line wrong as this is way down leg. The keeper, Andries Gous dives to his left but he has no chance to cut it off and it races away for a boundary.

Comes in with the arm from around the wickets, and serves it on a good length, slanting on the pads, Phil Salt goes for a pull shot but wears it high on his thigh pad.

Coming in with the arm, short and on middle, Jos Buttler punches it down to long off and turns the strike over.

Very full, outside off, Jos Buttler pulls out the reverse sweep but this was fired in by Kenjige and Buttler fails to connect.

FOUR! Effective use of the feet! Tosses it up, full and on middle, Jos Buttler advances and whacks it over mid on for a boundary.

Bowls it full, on off, Phil Salt turns it wide of mid-wicket for a single.

Starts on a nagging length, on middle, Jos Buttler works it in front of square on the leg side for a single.

Nosthush Kenjige is introduced into the attack now.

Back of a length, on off, Jos Buttler walks down the track and steers it wide of backward point for a single. An expensive over by Netravalkar, 19 runs off it.

SIX! Two in two for the English skipper! Netravalkar takes pace off this time and serves it on a length, at the stumps, Jos Buttler stays still on the point of contact and even though one hand comes off the bat, he gets more than enough on it to clear long on for half a dozen.

SIX! BANG! Enormous hit! One of the solar panels on the roof has taken a hit! Netravalkar comes from over the wicket and lands it on a length, on the middle, Jos Buttler shimmies down the track and holds his shape to tonk it back over the bowler's head for a 104-meter hit.

FOUR! Lovely shot! Netravalkar goes full this time, outside off, Jos Buttler gets his weight on the front foot and times the drive through covers for a classy boundary.

Dishes it out on a back of a length, on off, Jos Buttler hangs back and dabs it in front of backward point.

Angling from around the wicket, on a good length, on off and middle, Jos Buttler uses his feet and lifts it over mid off for a couple of runs.

Another arm-ball from Harmeet, at the stumps, Jos Buttler plays it from the crease with a straight bat to long off for one more run. Good couple of quiet overs from the USA.

Spears it in again, full and on middle, Phil Salt knocks it down to long off and gets to the other end.

Darts it in, on a length, on middle, Phil Salt defends it out with a straight bat.

Arm-ball from around the wicket, on a length, and angling on the pads, Jos Buttler leans on the ball and drives it nicely towards deep mid-wicket for a single.

Slows it up outside off, on a good length, Jos Buttler cuts it straight to cover.

Flighted one on the stumps, Jos Buttler leans ahead on it and pushes it straight back to Harmeet.

WIDE! A false start from Harmeet! Sprays it down leg on a length, Jos Buttler fails to tuck it away and misses. Wide given.

Spin from the other end. Harmeet Singh will bowl the second over of the chase.

A touch fuller and angling away, on off and middle, Phil Salt stays rooted in the crease and extends his hands to play this through the off side. Plays in front of his body and toe-ends his shot in front of cover. A clean start from Saurabh Netravalkar, just 2 runs from the first over.

Swinging in this time, on a short of a good length, Jos Buttler gets inside the line to tickle it wide of fine leg but gets an inside edge onto the pads. The batters cross as the ball rolls on the leg side.

Going across the batter, on a length, Jos Buttler steps out and reaches out in front it but picks out the man at cover with the drive.

Beaten! Angles it across the right-hander, on a back of a length, outside off, Jos Buttler has a feel for the delivery and gets beaten on the outside edge.

Shaping in again, on a good length, on middle and leg, Jos Buttler walks across and defends it out with a straight bat.

A misfield and England are underway! Gets a hint of an inward shape does Saurabh Netravalkar as he comes from over the wicket, on a good length, around the pads, Phil Salt tucks it towards mid-wicket where a fumble allows him to open his account with a single.

OUT! CASTLED! HAT-TRICK FOR CHRIS JORDAN IN BARBADOS, HIS PLACE OF BIRTH! How special! The stuff of dreams this! Jordan steams in from over the wicket and dishes it out on a good length, shaping in, on middle, Saurabh Netravalkar stays leg side of the ball and fails to cover the line of the ball. Reaches out with his bat in front but the ball nips back in and zips through the gap between bat and pad to knock the middle pole down. Four wickets in the over for Chris Jordan to bowl the USA out for 115.

Saurabh Netravalkar is the last man in for the USA and will face the Hat-Trick Ball.

OUT! TRAPPED PLUMB IN FRONT! Or is it? This looks dead-straight but Nosthush Kenjige has taken the review. This looks like a review more in hope than anything else as Kenjige missed a straight delivery there. Jordan continues to attack the stumps and keeps it on a good length, Nosthush Kenjige tries to get behind the line of the ball and gets his bat out in front of the pads. The ball comes back in off the deck again and beats Kenjige on the inside edge before going on to ping him on the front pad. There is nothing on UltraEdge and it is three reds on Ball Tracking. Chris Jordan is on a Hat-Trick.

Nosthush Kenjige is in at number 10.

OUT! BOWLED'EM! Chris Jordan finds the timber this time! Like the previous delivery, this comes back into the right-hander due to the wind, on a good length, on off, Ali Khan hangs back to keep it out but plays down the wrong line as he plays outside the line of the ball. The ball sneaks past the inside edge and goes through to uproot the off stump.

Oh, so close to the off pole! Slanting in, on a length, around off, Ali Khan stays rooted in his crease and looks to play at it but gets beaten on the inside edge as the ball nips in and goes just past the off stump.

Ali Khan is in at number 9.

OUT! STRAIGHT TO THE FIELDER! Corey Anderson holes out! After losing Harmeet Singh on the last ball of the last over, the USA needed Anderson to bat through but he departs now and this is a big blow. Jordan goes searching for the yorker but it does not come out well for him. Low full toss, outside off, Corey Anderson drags the shot towards long on but fails to get any elevation. Hits it straight down the throat of long on where Harry Brook does the rest.

Chris Jordan (2-0-10-0) will bowl the penultimate over. Shadley van Schalkwyk is the new man in for the USA.

OUT! TAKEN! Sam Curran finally gets his man! Not the best of deliveries but Curran will take it. Tries to go full but slips in a low full toss, outside off, Harmeet Singh looks to clear the man at long off this time. Fails to get the power behind it and ends up hitting it flat towards long off where Chris Jordan runs in off the ropes and slides to his right to complete the catch. Sam Curran gets his second wicket.

SIX! Gets enough on it! Pace on and on a back of a length, around off, Harmeet Singh waits deep in his crease to go over long on. Thumps it hard and manages to clear the leaping Harry Brook at long on for a six. 14 runs off the over so far.

FOUR! Up and over! Curran pulls the length back and bowls it on a good length, outside off, Harmeet Singh steps out again and this time, he gets it over Moeen Ali at extra cover for a boundary.

PUT DOWN! Moeen Ali fails to hold onto a tough chance! Low full toss, outside off, Harmeet Singh uses his feet and reaches out to go over extra cover. Moeen stationed there, leaps but the ball brushes his fingertips and rolls behind for a couple of runs.

Back-of-the-hand slower delivery this time by Curran and it is full and outside off, Corey Anderson fails to get underneath it and can only hit it down to long off for one.

Slower bouncer by Curran from over the wicket, at the batter, Harmeet Singh waits for the ball to arrive and pulls it along the ground to deep backward square leg for a single.

Attacks the stumps with a length delivery, Harmeet Singh creates room and hacks it off the inner half of the bat to deep mid-wicket for one. The USA are struggling to get the big overs towards the back end of their innings.

Beaten! Serves it on a good length, angling away, on off, Harmeet Singh is neither forward nor back to play this one and looks to clip it away but the ball zips through to go past the bat.

Going across the batter, on a fullish length, Harmeet Singh uses his feet and makes room to go through the off side but fails to get any bat on it.

Nails the yorker, around off, Corey Anderson squeezes it out to long off and rotates the strike.

Digs it in short again, on middle, Harmeet Singh pulls it without much timing to deep square leg for one.

Aerial but safe! Jordan rolls his fingers over the ball and lands it on a back of a length, on middle, Corey Anderson pulls but hits it against the wind and it drops on the bounce to deep backward square leg for a single.

Gets another yorker in from around the wicket, at the base of the middle stump, Corey Anderson jams it out in front of point for just a single.

Hurls it on a fullish length, on middle, Harmeet Singh knocks it down to long on for a single.

Goes into the wicket and rushes the batter up there, on off, Harmeet Singh swivels for the pull but fails to connect and wears it on the body.

Dishes out a yorker, angling in, on middle, Harmeet Singh digs it out on the leg side.

FOUR! Slapped away! Archer offers width this time as he slips in another off-cutter, short in length, Harmeet Singh gets on his toes and hits it past Moeen Ali at extra cover for a boundary.

Takes pace off does Archer as he comes in from over the wicket, on a good length, on middle, Harmeet Singh gets behind the line of the ball and defends it out.

Another googly around leg, Corey Anderson shuffles across the stumps to sweep it away but misses to connect it again. It misses the leg stump by a whisker and hits Jos Buttler on his helmet before dropping beside him.

Swing and a miss. A googly again, pitching around off and turning away as well, Corey Anderson gets low for a sweep shot but misses.

Pushes it full and on the leg stump line, Harmeet Singh flicks it towards square leg for a quick single.

Loops up a wrong'un on the stumps, Harmeet Singh blocks it out off the back foot to the off side.

Nice and full on the pads, Harmeet Singh looks to defend but gets beaten all ends up and wears it on the pads.

Tossed up full and around leg, Corey Anderson flicks it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

WIDE! Leg break on a length but down the leg side. Wided.

Harmeet Singh walks out to bat now.

OUT! TAKEN! Liam Livingstone joins the wicket-taking party now and the USA is certainly losing the momentum here. Liam Livingstone stays over the wicket and bowls a conventional leg break on a short length, on the stumps, turning away as well, and gets an extra bit of bounce which takes Milind Kumar by surprise. Milind Kumar goes back into the crease for a pull shot over the leg side but splices it up in the air behind him. Jos Buttler calls for his catch, settles under it and safety grabs it.

Pitches it up, full and on off, Corey Anderson drills it straight down to long off for a single.

Drags his length this time does Livingstone, short and on the stumps, Corey Anderson goes for another reverse sweep but mistimes it straight to backward point.

Full and drifting onto the pads, Corey Anderson flicks it to widish long on for a brace.

SIX! A much-needed six for the USA! A boundary after 34 deliveries. Tossed up outside off, on a fuller length, Corey Anderson reaches out and reverse sweeps it over deep point for a biggie.

Turns it away from outside off on a fuller length, Corey Anderson is early on the sweep shot and fails to connect.

Nails in a yorker on the off stump line, Corey Anderson squeezes it out through the left of mid off for a single. Yet another over without a boundary for the USA. Just 6 from it.

Bowls it to his field does Jordan, and lands it short and at the stumps, slowing it up at 116 kph, Milind Kumar waits for it and pulls it towards deep square leg for one.

Pitched up outside off, Corey Anderson drives it off the inner half of the willow towards long on for one.

Slower one on a length, Corey Anderson defends it to the left of the bowler.

Overthrow and an extra run for the USA! Slows the pace around off at 115 kph, Corey Anderson taps it in front of point to steal a quick single. Sam Curran gets quickly to the ball and has a shy at the striker's end but misses by a long way. The ball guns towards deep mid-wicket and allows the batters to cross for another run. Two runs then.

Jordan bowls it on a hard length, outside off, Milind Kumar stands still and steers it with the pace towards deep third and rotates the strike with a single.

Chris Jordan comes into the attack, replacing Adil Rashid.

Excellent work there in the deep!  Flights it up, full and outside off, Corey Anderson skips down the track and spanks it down the ground. The long on fielder, Sam Curran runs to his right and stops it with a good timely dive. Two runs taken.

Tossed up, outside off, Milind Kumar strides ahead and drives it along the carpet for a single at long off.

Provides a few revs on the ball, and tosses it on a length, outside off, Milind Kumar goes for a cut but bottom edges it on a bounce to first slip.

Short in length and on off, Corey Anderson goes back and across and pulls it towards long on for a single. The boundaries have literally dried up now.

Darts it in, on a nagging length, on middle, Corey Anderson punches it back to Liam Livingstone.

Quicker and on off, Corey Anderson defends it out to the off side.

Flighted and shorter in length around off, Corey Anderson hangs back and pushes it to covers for one.

Has Corey Anderson been caught short here? Leg-break, tossed up outside off, Milind Kumar dabs it with soft hands in front of backward point and fetches a quick single. Reece Topley is quick on the ball and underarms it straight to Jos Buttler who whips the bails in a flash but Corey Anderson is inside the popping crease by then.

Milind Kumar is the new man in.

OUT! BOWLED'EM! Adil Rashid gets his second and the USA are in deep trouble! Adil Rashid dishes out another deceptive back-of-the-hand wrong'un, pitching around off and sharply spinning into the batter. Nitish Kumar stands clueless and tries an expansive drive and misreads the googly completely. The ball sneaks past his under edge and clips the middle stump.

A googly that comes into the batter on the middle, Nitish Kumar doesn't read it well and plays all around it to wear it onto the back pad.

Loops it up around leg, Corey Anderson leans ahead and works it to deep mid-wicket for one.

Flights it up on the pads, Nitish Kumar strides ahead and turns it to vacant mid-wicket for a single.

Drinks break! The USA have struggled to sustain the run rate and build a strong partnership with their top three blown away. Nitish Kumar has held onto one end and is battling unbeaten on 29 but he needs strong support from the other end. With Corey Anderson out to the middle, the USA would expect these two to take the innings forward resiliently. As far as England are concerned, Adil Rashid and Liam Livingstone are spinning a web around the opposition batters and have done well to dry up the boundaries. With Moeen Ali also available as a spin option, Jos Buttler will look to choke the opposition out through spin.

Drops it short and outside off, Nitish Kumar rocks back and drags the pull to deep mid-wicket for just a single. 14 balls since the last boundary for the USA.

Fires it in, flat and short, on middle, Corey Anderson gets down for the sweep but gets a bottom edge that rolls in front of short fine leg for another single.

On a nagging length, on middle and leg, Nitish Kumar uses his feet and tucks it through mid-wicket for one more.

Fuller and quicker, on off, Corey Anderson hits it down to long off and gets to the other end.

In the air...but it lands safely! Out comes the leg-break for the right-hander from Livingstone, full and outside off, Nitish Kumar has a swipe across the line but gets a top edge that falls behind point for a single.

Bowls the off-break to the left-hander but it is a bit too full, on off, Corey Anderson drills it down to long off and takes a single.

Strays on the pads, on a nagging length, Corey Anderson nudges it wide of backward square leg and retains the strike with a single. End of a successful over for Adil Rashid and England.

Attacks the stumps with a full delivery, Corey Anderson reaches out in front and plays the paddle sweep, fine of fine leg for a couple of runs.

Corey Anderson is in at number 5.

OUT! CLEANED HIM UP! The googly does the trick for Adil Rashid! Rashid stays over the wicket and bowls the first googly of the over and loops it up as well, on middle and leg, Aaron Jones falls for the trap as he shapes up to execute the slog sweep on the ball turning away from him. Fails to pick the googly and it dips on him before spinning past the inside edge and rattles into the stumps. Another low score for the USA's skipper, Aaron Jones.

Pushes it through, short and outside off, Aaron Jones lets it go through.

Serves it on a flatter trajectory, and short in length, on middle and leg, Aaron Jones pulls out the reverse sweep but hits it flat and it goes on the bounce to backward point.

Drifting in, on the pads, full in length, Nitish Kumar knocks it off the front foot to long on for a single.

Beaten again! Full and spinning away, outside off, Aaron Jones reaches out to play at it but gets beaten on the outside edge due to the away turn.

Big swing and a miss! Floats it up again, outside off, Aaron Jones backs away and shapes up to go back over the bowler's head but connects with thin air.

FOUR! No slip and it races away! Nicely tossed up by Livingstone, full and on off, Aaron Jones is lured into the drive but fails to smother the spin. The ball catches the outside edge and races past Jofra Archer at short third for a boundary.

Turn and bounce! Drifting in, full and turning away, around off, Aaron Jones plays for the straight delivery as he presses forward but it spins away to beat the bat.

A bit quicker and fuller, outside off, Aaron Jones lets it go through to the keeper.

Starts it short and around off, not much turn, Nitish Kumar cuts it late and wide of backward point where the fielder makes a good diving stop to his left to keep it down to one.

Bowls it flat and short, on off, Aaron Jones rocks back and chops it on the bounce to backward point.

Dishes out the googly now, on nagging length, Aaron Jones misses to flick it away and wears it on the pads.

So nearly dragged it on! Quicker through the air and shorter, on off, it is too close for Aaron Jones to play the cut. Gets an inside edge that sneaks past the off pole.

Gives the ball more air, full and around off, Nitish Kumar drives it past cover and takes a single.

Loops it up, full and on middle, Aaron Jones eases it down to long with a straight bat for a single.

Very full, on off, Aaron Jones digs it out in front of cover.

Time for some spin now. Adil Rashid is introduced into the attack.

Quick single taken! Keeps it full and on middle, Aaron Jones knocks it to mid on and gets across to the other end quickly. There is a direct hit at the bowling end but Jones is well in.

FOUR! Skillfully done! Slanting in, full and around off, Aaron Jones opens the face of his bat perfectly and threads it through the gap between backward point and short third. Gets going with a boundary does the USA skipper.

Angling in, on a good length from around the wicket, on middle, Aaron Jones gets right behind the line of the ball and defends it out.

Aaron Jones strides out to the middle at number 4.

OUT! TAKEN! 50TH T20I WICKET FOR SAM CURRAN! He pulls the length back and bowls the back-of-the-hand slower delivery, outside off, Steven Taylor arches back and tries to slap it past backward point. He has no intention of keeping it along the ground but has to generate power behind it as there was no pace offered by Curran. Taylor hits it flat towards backward point where Moeen Ali reacts well, diving and tumbling away to his left and taking a safe catch.

FOUR! Edged away! Curran takes pace off and keeps it full and wide on off, Steven Taylor throws his hands at it but gets an outside edge that beats Reece Topley at short third diving to his right for a boundary.

Curran comes into the attack and starts with a full delivery, outside off, Steven Taylor leans on it and times the drive well but picks out the man at cover.

On the back of a length, on off, Nitish Kumar hangs back and hits it straight back to Topley. An expensive over. 13 runs from it.

Almost a half-tracker on the pads, Nitish Kumar hops and nudges it to deep mid-wicket with soft hands for a brace.

Good length, around off, Nitish Kumar defends it to covers.

SIX! Oh, hello! Goes fuller again, and keeps the line the same as the previous ball, around middle and leg, Nitish Kumar picks this up off the middle of the willow, and with a straight bat, and gets it over long on for a six. This is a good attacking approach from Nitish Kumar.

FOUR! Clears the 30-yard in style and gets a boundary! Topley bowls it full and angles on the leg and the middle stump, Nitish Kumar clears his front leg and hits it over mid on for a cracking boundary. He didn't try to hit it too hard. Pure timing.

Bowls it fuller in length, angling onto the pads, Steven Taylor swipes it over mid-wicket on a single bounce towards deep mid-wicket. Gets a single.

Hits the deck hard, slightly outside off, Nitish Kumar goes for a slash backing away but misses.

TOP EDGE AND SIX! Jofra Archer cannons a vicious bumper at an express pace, on the bodyline, Nitish Kumar stands tall and transfers his weight on the back foot to pull it away aerially but gets it off the top edge and it flies over the wicket-keeper and over the ropes for a six.

Bowls it full in length, at the stumps, Nitish Kumar mistimes it to mid on.

Archer spears in a leg-cutter on a length, around off, Nitish Kumar watches it closely and opens the bat's face to guide it to backward point.

Good length, on the stumps, Nitish Kumar makes room and goes for an on-the-up drive but mistimes it straight to mid off.

Length ball on the pads, Nitish Kumar flicks it nicely along the grass between mid-wicket and deep square leg. The two fielders converge and the fielder running from mid-wicket runs to his right, picks it up and keeps it to a double.

Sprays it onto the pads, on a good length, Steven Taylor lifts his front leg in the air and swipes it across but straight towards Adil Rashid at short fine.

FOUR! Well struck! Pitches it up and keeps it on off, Steven Taylor takes a slight step ahead and clears the mid off fielder and gets a boundary at long off.

Length-delivery at the off stump, Nitish Kumar drives it to the right of mid off where Harry Brook moves a bit to his right and dives to stop the ball. Saves a certain boundary and restricts them to just a single.

On the back of a length, around off, Nitish Kumar presses ahead and defends it to the off side.

Back of a length, outside off, Nitish Kumar rides on the bounce and pats it to backward point.

Good running! Pitched up outside off, Nitish Kumar covers his stumps and drives it crisply through covers for a brace.

Goes full and straight, at the stumps, Steven Taylor stays rooted in the crease and goes for the drive. The bat turns in his hand but still gets it past cover for a couple of runs. A tidy start by Archer.

Full and going away with the angle, outside off, Steven Taylor goes for an expansive drive but misses.

A direct hit would have been curtains for Taylor! Length ball outside off, Steven Taylor dabs it to backward point and attempts for a single but gets sent back by his partner. Taylor retreats back. Liam Livingstone picks the ball and has a shy at the striker's end but misses. Taylor had given up there.

BEATEN! Good length, around off and moving away with the angle, Steven Taylor looks to defend it but doesn't move his feet, and plays it away from the body and gets beaten on the outside edge.

A precise yorker on the stumps, Steven Taylor shovels it out back to the bowler.

Over the wicket, full and on the leg stump line, Steven Taylor tries to flick it but misses and wears it on the pads. Half a shout for LBW but this has pitched outside leg.

Nitish Kumar comes in at number 3. It will be Jofra Archer to steam in from the other end.

OUT! IN THE AIR AND TAKEN! Reece Topley strikes gold in the very first over for England. Reece Topley continues from over the stumps, lands it fuller in length around the middle and leg stump line, Andries Gous goes to make the most out of this fuller ball and hits it aerially across the line but gets it off the bottom half of the willow. Hence, he doesn't get the requisite power to get it over the fence and the ball carries straight into the hands of Phil Salt stationed at deep square leg who runs ahead and takes it easily.

Length-delivery, around the leg stump, swinging in again on a fuller length, Andries Gous misses to connect and wears it on the front pad. A muted appeal for LBW but the umpire is unmoved.

SIX! First six of the game and it comes off the willow of Andries Gous. An in-swinger onto the pads, on a fuller length, Andries Gous whips it with the swing and the ball sails over deep backward square leg for a six.

Peach! Good hard length, moving away at the very last moment on the top of off, Andries Gous plays inside the line and goes for a push ahead but gets beaten on the outside edge.

In the air...lands safe! Stays over the wicket and lands it on a fullish length, angling in, Andries Gous closes the bat's face pretty early to flick it away, and gets the leading edge that flies over covers for a brace.

A single and USA and Steven Taylor are underway in a streaky fashion! Reece Topley starts off from over the wicket, lands it touch fuller and swings it a bit away from outside off, Steven Taylor strides ahead and gets a thickish outside edge that races towards deep backward point for a single.

Done with the national anthems and we are all set to go in what will be the first meeting in international cricket between the USA and England. The sun is shining brightly at the Kensington Oval and let's hope it stays that way. Jos Buttler and Co. make their way out to the centre. It will be the left-hand right-hand combination of Steven Taylor and Andries Gous to open the innings for the USA. Reece Topley will kickstart proceedings with the new ball for England. Off we go...

We are moments away from the first ball in this crucial Group 2 clash, but before that, Jos Buttler and Aaron Jones will lead their respective sides out for the national anthems. It will be England's national anthem first followed by the national anthem of the USA.

Aaron Jones, the stand-in skipper of the USA says they would have bowled first as well. Reckons there might be some assistance for the pacers early on. He adds they will play fearless cricket and are going to go hard on the opponents. He thinks they need to be more disciplined and haven't been at their best since a couple of games. Tells that they will try to better themselves and aim to come back strongly. Ends up by informing that they are going with an unchanged team.

The captain of England, Jos Buttler says that they want to take advantage of the early morning start and feels that the pitch will be tacky to start with. Tells that they have a quick turnaround after the defeat against South Africa but everyone is excited and looking forward to this game. Shares that they know what they need to do to make it to the semis and it is about matching the intensity. Informs that they have made one change with Chris Jordan coming in for Mark Wood.

England (Playing XI) - Phil Salt, Jos Buttler (C/WK), Jonny Bairstow, Harry Brook, Moeen Ali, Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran, Chris Jordan (In for Mark Wood), Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Reece Topley.

USA (Unchanged Playing XI) - Steven Taylor, Andries Gous (WK), Nitish Kumar, Aaron Jones (C), Corey Anderson, Milind Kumar, Harmeet Singh, Shadley van Schalkwyk, Nosthush Kenjige, Ali Khan, Saurabh Netravalkar.

TOSS UPDATE - Jos Buttler, the skipper of England calls it right and elects to BOWL first.

PITCH REPORT - Michael Atherton is near the deck. He starts by saying that the forecast is for scattered showers but hopes that the strong cross-breeze will keep the rain away. Tells that the dimensions of the square boundaries are 64 metres and 62 metres with a 74-metre hit down the ground. Adds that this is the same pitch that was used for the game between the USA and the West Indies. Ramiz Raja joins him and says that the pitch in the last game was pristine but this looks a bit dry and grassless. Further says that despite there being a few rough patches, the wicket will be good to bat on.

USA’s campaign has been a tale of two halves, quite literally. After putting up a sensational performance in the group phase, and defeating a heavyweight like Pakistan, they seem to have gone out of gas with three defeats in a row. The absence of their full-time skipper Monank Patel has surely created a vacuum and Aaron Jones’ form has also dipped with the leadership pressure since the last couple of games. But Andries Gous has done the most with the bat and the team would expect another stronger performance from him and Jones. A loss here would spell the end of their World Cup journey. However, regardless of the outcome, their experience competing against top-tier teams in this tournament, and also coming this far, should prove invaluable for them. A key battle to watch will be how the USA's bowling attack led by Saurabh Netravalkar fares against England's power-packed batting unit. This contest could well determine the match's outcome. Will England strike back strong after a defeat? Or will the USA spring another surprise? Stick around as the toss and the teams are up next shortly.

A win for England would elevate them to four points, potentially catapulting them to the top of Group B. If they manage a victory with a considerable margin, the defending champions could leapfrog South Africa in the standings. England have displayed a noticeable improvement after a pretty lukewarm start to their campaign. With the bat, Phil Salt and Harry Brook have been consistent but others have blown hot and cold. As a result, there's a growing need for the rest to elevate their game and provide better backing to Salt and Brook. With Jofra Archer leading the pace attack effectively, and the others too, bowling in fine tune, England's bowling unit appears to be in good shape as well. To keep their hopes alive for the semifinals, England must deliver a strong performance and secure a win in this match.

It’s Match number 9 of the Super 8s in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, 2024, and we are here in Barbados at the iconic Kensington Oval of Bridgetown. We are nearing the semis and the tournament has just gotten more spicy as it has progressed ahead. It’s the USA taking on the defending champions England in what promises to be an exhilarating contest between the two sides. This marks the first-ever cricket clash between these two nations in any format of cricket, adding another layer of thrill.

... MATCH DAY ...

We're down to the wire in the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup, with the Semi-Finals looming large on the horizon. The Super 8s have lived up to their billing so far with nail-biting clashes around, and are serving up another tasty treat in Match 9, as the underdog co-hosts USA square off against the powerhouse defending champs, England at the iconic Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados. The Three Lions are sitting pretty in second place, having notched one in the win column and one in the loss column so far. Meanwhile, Team USA has taken a beating, being stuck at the bottom of the pile after two straight defeats. The English side has shown impressive form in this phase of the tournament. They dominated the West Indies with a blistering batting display, and their match against South Africa was a thrilling contest that went down to the wire. Their batting order is proving to be a formidable force. Phil Salt has been in exceptional form, continuing his stellar run in 2024. Alongside him, Jos Buttler and Jonny Bairstow have been consistent performers, providing England with strong starts. Harry Brook and Liam Livingstone have also stepped up, playing crucial innings when needed. Their performance in the previous game, where they nearly steered England to victory from a challenging position, was particularly noteworthy. However, the team could benefit and expect more consistent contributions from players like Moeen Ali and Sam Curran with the bat. If these all-rounders can find their rhythm, it would add significant depth to an already strong English lineup. Jofra Archer's comeback has given England's pace attack a real shot in the arm. With speed demons Mark Wood and Reece Topley already in the mix, Archer's return makes their fast bowling unit even more potent. Since his return, Archer's been bowling decently, showing flashes of his old brilliance. The team's banking on him to keep building momentum and hit his stride as the tournament heats up. In the spin department, England's not slouching either. Adil Rashid's been a real miser with the ball, keeping things tighter. He's got solid backup too, with Moeen Ali and Liam Livingstone ready to roll their arms over when needed. The USA's journey in this T20 World Cup has been a tale of two halves. Their league phase performance was nothing short of spectacular, with a stunning upset over Pakistan and consistently strong showings throughout. However, the Super 8s have proven to be a different beast altogether. Understandably, the Americans have struggled in this phase, given that they're facing a level of competition they've rarely encountered before. Their heavy losses to South Africa and the West Indies have brought them back down to earth after their initial high. Andries Gous and Aaron Jones have been the backbone of the USA's batting, shouldering much of the run-scoring responsibility. Steven Taylor has also chipped in with some useful contributions at the top of the order. However, the team is clearly feeling the absence of their captain and run-accumulator Monank Patel, who's been sidelined due to injury. Corey Anderson, despite his wealth of international experience, has yet to make a significant impact with either bat or ball. The team will be hoping he can tap into his vast experience and stage a comeback. Saurabh Netravalkar has spearheaded the bowling department with remarkable consistency and has got decent support from Ali Khan and Nosthush Kenjige as well. The USA squad finds themselves with their backs against the wall in this do-or-die scenario, and This is where we'll see what the USA team is really made of. Can they rise to the occasion once again when everything's on the line? Or will the weight of the moment prove too much? Only time will tell. Which team are you supporting?