Cricket, often seen as a global sport with a passionate following, took center stage on June 21, 2024, when the United States National Cricket Team vs West Indies Cricket Team Match Scorecard in a thrilling Super Eight Group 2 match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Held at the iconic Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, this match was a showcase of contrasting styles, strategies, and sheer cricketing talent. The West Indies, a powerhouse with a rich cricketing heritage, took on the rising United States team, eager to prove their mettle on the global stage. Let’s dive into the details of this exciting match, breaking down the scorecard, key moments, and what it meant for both teams, all in a way that’s easy to follow for readers of any age.

The Build-Up to the Match

The T20 World Cup 2024 was a landmark event for cricket, especially for the United States, as they co-hosted the tournament with the West Indies. This match was part of the Super Eight stage, where only the top teams from the group phase advanced. Both teams were coming off losses in their opening Super Eight matches—USA to South Africa and West Indies to England—making this game a must-win to keep their semifinal hopes alive. The stakes were high, the crowd was buzzing, and the atmosphere at Kensington Oval was electric.

The United States, an associate member of the International Cricket Council (ICC), had already made waves in the tournament by defeating Pakistan in a Super Over earlier. This gave them confidence, but facing the West Indies, a two-time T20 World Cup champion, was a different challenge altogether. The West Indies, known for their explosive batting and fiery bowling, were playing at home, with the crowd firmly behind them. The toss went the West Indies’ way, and they elected to bowl first, hoping to restrict the USA and chase the target quickly to boost their net run rate.

United States Innings: A Tale of Struggle and Resilience

The United States took to the crease with a mix of aggression and caution, knowing they needed a competitive total to challenge the West Indies. Their batting lineup, led by captain Aaron Jones, featured a blend of experienced players like Corey Anderson and emerging talents like Andries Gous. Here’s how their innings unfolded.

Early Setbacks and a Promising Start

The USA innings got off to a shaky start when opener Steven Taylor fell for just 2 runs in the second over, caught by Roston Chase off Andre Russell’s bowling. The West Indies bowlers, known for their pace and guile, were quick to exploit the conditions. However, Andries Gous and Nitish Kumar steadied the ship, putting together a 48-run partnership that gave the USA hope. Gous, in particular, played with flair, scoring 29 runs off 16 balls, including three fours and a six, before falling to Alzarri Joseph in the eighth over. Nitish Kumar contributed 20 runs but was trapped lbw by Gudakesh Motie, a decision upheld after a review.

Middle-Order Collapse

With the score at 51/2 after 6.3 overs, the USA looked poised for a decent total. But the West Indies’ spin duo of Roston Chase and Gudakesh Motie turned the game on its head. Chase, who would later be named Player of the Match, bowled a masterful spell, dismissing Aaron Jones (11) and Corey Anderson (7) in quick succession. Jones was bowled by a beautifully flighted delivery, while Anderson was plumb lbw. Harmeet Singh, who had shown promise earlier in the tournament, was out for a duck, caught off Chase’s bowling, leaving the USA reeling at 88/6 after 13.3 overs.

Lower-Order Fightback

Despite the collapse, the USA’s lower order showed grit. Milind Kumar (19) and Shadley van Schalkwyk (18) added crucial runs, pushing the score past 100. Van Schalkwyk’s three boundaries provided some momentum, but both fell in quick succession, with Andre Russell and Alzarri Joseph striking again. Ali Khan’s unbeaten 14 off 6 balls, including a four and a six, gave the USA a late boost, but they were bowled out for 128 in 19.5 overs when Saurabh Netravalkar was caught by Rovman Powell off Russell.

West Indies Bowling: Chase and Russell Shine

The West Indies’ bowling attack was disciplined and effective. Roston Chase led the way with figures of 3/19 in 4 overs, earning him the Player of the Match award. Andre Russell was equally impactful, taking 3/31, while Alzarri Joseph chipped in with 2/31. Gudakesh Motie’s solitary wicket of Nitish Kumar was crucial in breaking the early momentum. Akeal Hosein and Obed McCoy, while wicketless, kept the pressure on with tight bowling, conceding just 13 and 20 runs, respectively.

West Indies Innings: A Masterclass in Chasing

Chasing a modest 129, the West Indies needed a quick win to improve their net run rate, and their batsmen delivered in style. Openers Shai Hope and Johnson Charles set the tone, while Nicholas Pooran provided the finishing touches.

Shai Hope’s Explosive Knock

Shai Hope was the star of the West Indies’ chase, scoring an unbeaten 82 off 39 balls, including four fours and eight sixes. His aggressive intent was evident from the start, as he smashed boundaries and sixes with ease. Hope reached his fifty off just 26 balls, putting the USA bowlers under immense pressure. His cover drives and lofted shots were a treat to watch, and he dominated the powerplay, helping the West Indies race to 58/0 in 6 overs.

Johnson Charles played a supporting role, scoring 15 off 14 balls before falling to Harmeet Singh in the seventh over, caught by Milind Kumar at long-on. Despite the breakthrough, the USA couldn’t slow the West Indies’ momentum. Nicholas Pooran joined Hope and played a blistering cameo, scoring an unbeaten 27 off 12 balls, including a four and three sixes. Their 63-run partnership for the second wicket sealed the chase in just 10.5 overs, with the West Indies finishing at 130/1.

USA Bowling: A Tough Day

The USA bowlers struggled to contain the West Indies’ firepower. Saurabh Netravalkar, usually their most reliable bowler, went wicketless for 31 runs in 2.5 overs. Harmeet Singh was the only bowler to take a wicket, dismissing Charles, but his 2 overs cost 18 runs. Ali Khan and Shadley van Schalkwyk were expensive, conceding 18 and 29 runs, respectively, while Milind Kumar’s solitary over went for 22 runs, including three sixes by Hope. The USA’s lack of bowling depth was exposed, and they couldn’t defend the modest total.

Scorecard Breakdown

Below is the detailed United States National Cricket Team vs West Indies Cricket Team Match Scorecard, capturing the performances of both teams.

United States National Cricket Team vs West Indies Cricket Team Match Scorecard, T20 World Cup 2024, Super Eight Match 6

Date: June 21, 2024
Venue: Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados
Toss: West Indies won the toss and elected to bowl
Result: West Indies won by 9 wickets
Player of the Match: Roston Chase (West Indies)

United States Innings (128/10, 19.5 overs, RR: 6.45)

Batsman	Dismissal	Runs	Balls	4s	6s	SR
Steven Taylor	c Chase b Russell	2	7	0	0	28.57
Andries Gous (wk)	c Hope b Joseph	29	16	3	1	181.25
Nitish Kumar	lbw b Motie	20	19	2	0	105.26
Aaron Jones (c)	b Chase	11	11	0	1	100.00
Corey Anderson	lbw b Chase	7	15	0	0	46.66
Milind Kumar	run out (Motie/Russell)	19	21	1	0	90.47
Harmeet Singh	c Charles b Chase	0	1	0	0	0.00
Shadley van Schalkwyk	c Charles b Russell	18	17	3	0	105.88
Nosthush Kenjige	c Pooran b Joseph	1	3	0	0	33.33
Ali Khan	not out	14	6	1	1	233.33
Saurabh Netravalkar	c Powell b Russell	0	4	0	0	0.00
Extras	(nb 1, w 6)	7
Total	(19.5 overs)	128

Fall of Wickets:
1-3 (Taylor, 1.2), 2-51 (Kumar, 6.3), 3-60 (Gous, 7.5), 4-65 (Jones, 9.1), 5-88 (Anderson, 13.2), 6-88 (Singh, 13.3), 7-112 (Kumar, 17.2), 8-112 (van Schalkwyk, 17.4), 9-125 (Kenjige, 18.5), 10-128 (Netravalkar, 19.5)

Bowling

Bowler	Overs	Runs	Wickets	Economy	Wides	No Balls
Akeal Hosein	3	13	0	4.33	0	0
Andre Russell	3.5	31	3	8.08	3	0
Obed McCoy	2	20	0	10.00	1	0
Alzarri Joseph	4	31	2	7.75	1	1
Gudakesh Motie	3	14	1	4.66	0	0
Roston Chase	4	19	3	4.75	1	0

West Indies Innings (130/1, 10.5 overs, RR: 12.00)

Batsman	Dismissal	Runs	Balls	4s	6s	SR
Shai Hope	not out	82	39	4	8	210.25
Johnson Charles	c Kumar b Singh	15	14	2	0	107.14
Nicholas Pooran (wk)	not out	27	12	1	3	225.00
Extras	(lb 1, w 5)	6
Total	(10.5 overs)	130

Did not bat: Rovman Powell (c), Andre Russell, Sherfane Rutherford, Roston Chase, Obed McCoy, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Gudakesh Motie
Fall of Wickets: 1-67 (Charles, 6.6)

Bowling

Bowler	Overs	Runs	Wickets	Economy	Wides
Saurabh Netravalkar	2.5	31	0	10.94	0
Nosthush Kenjige	1	11	0	11.00	0
Ali Khan	2	18	0	9.00	2
Harmeet Singh	2	18	1	9.00	0
Shadley van Schalkwyk	2	29	0	14.50	1
Milind Kumar	1	22	0	22.00	1

Match Details

Umpires: Allahuddien Paleker, Paul Reiffel
TV Umpire: Rod Tucker
Reserve Umpire: Alex Wharf
Match Referee: David Boon
Points: West Indies 2, United States 0

Key Moments That Defined the Match

Several moments stood out in this one-sided encounter:

Roston Chase’s Bowling Masterclass: Chase’s spell of 3/19, including the dismissals of Jones, Anderson, and Singh, was the turning point in the USA’s innings. His ability to flight the ball and deceive the batsmen was a highlight.
Shai Hope’s Explosive Batting: Hope’s 82 not out was a display of power and precision. His eight sixes, including back-to-back maximums in the ninth over, demoralized the USA bowlers and ensured a swift chase.
USA’s Middle-Order Collapse: Losing three wickets for just 4 runs between the 9th and 14th overs derailed the USA’s innings, as Chase and Motie exploited their inexperience against spin.
Andre Russell’s All-Round Impact: Russell’s 3/31 with the ball and his fielding contributions, including a run-out, complemented his reputation as a T20 superstar.
USA’s Late Fightback: Ali Khan’s quickfire 14 not out gave the USA a glimmer of hope, but it wasn’t enough to set a challenging total.

What This Match Meant for United States National Cricket Team vs West Indies Cricket Team Match Scorecard Both Teams

For the West Indies, this comprehensive nine-wicket victory was a much-needed boost after their loss to England. The win not only earned them two points but also improved their net run rate, keeping them in contention for the semifinals. Shai Hope’s form and Roston Chase’s all-round brilliance were positive signs for the team as they aimed to reclaim their T20 World Cup glory.

For the United States, the defeat was their second consecutive loss in the Super Eight stage, making their semifinal chances slim. However, their performance showed resilience, especially from players like Gous and van Schalkwyk. The USA’s participation in the Super Eight was a historic achievement for an associate nation, and this match was a learning experience against a cricketing giant.

Why This Match Matters for Cricket

This match was more than just a game; it was a symbol of cricket’s growing global reach. The USA, a relatively new cricketing nation, held their own against a team with a storied history. Their ability to post 128, despite a collapse, and take a wicket in the chase showed their potential. For the West Indies, it was a reminder of their dominance in T20 cricket and their ability to entertain fans with flair and power.

Cricket’s inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and the USA’s role as a co-host of the 2024 T20 World Cup signal a bright future for the sport in North America. Matches like this one inspire new fans and players, bridging the gap between traditional cricketing nations and emerging ones.

Conclusion

The United States National Cricket Team vs West Indies Cricket Team Match Scorecard on June 21, 2024, was a fascinating clash of cricketing cultures. The West Indies’ clinical performance, led by Shai Hope and Roston Chase, showcased their T20 prowess, while the USA’s spirited effort highlighted their growing presence in world cricket. The detailed scorecard tells the story of a match dominated by the West Indies but marked by moments of resilience from the USA. Whether you’re a lifelong cricket fan or just learning the game, this match was a reminder of why cricket captivates millions—its blend of strategy, skill, and sheer excitement.

The Build-Up to the Match