Hey there, cricket fans! If you’re new to the game or just love a good underdog story, pull up a chair. Today, we’re diving into one of the most exciting matches from the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup: the showdown between the United States National Cricket Team vs West Indies Cricket Team Match Scorecard. This game wasn’t just about runs and wickets—it was a battle of passion, history, and the growth of cricket in unexpected places. Imagine the electric atmosphere at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, on June 21, 2024. The sun setting over the Caribbean Sea, crowds cheering wildly, and two teams with everything on the line. Whether you’re a kid dreaming of hitting sixes or an adult reminiscing about cricket legends, this article breaks it all down simply, step by step. We’ll cover the background, the action, a full scorecard in a handy table, key moments, and what it all meant. Let’s get into it!
The Build-Up: Two Teams, Two Worlds
Cricket has always been a sport of stories, and this match had plenty. The West Indies, often called the “Calypso Cricketers,” are like the rock stars of the game. They’ve won two T20 World Cups (2012 and 2016) and have legends like Brian Lara, Chris Gayle, and Dwayne Bravo in their hall of fame. But heading into this Super Eights clash, they were under pressure. After a shaky start in the group stage, a loss to England in their first Super Eight game left them needing a big win to stay in the semi-final hunt. Captain Rovman Powell knew it: “We have to play fearless cricket,” he said before the toss. The West Indies team was stacked with power-hitters like Nicholas Pooran and all-rounders like Andre Russell, ready to unleash their Caribbean flair.
On the other side, the USA team was the surprise package. Cricket isn’t huge in America—think baseball and football dominate—but the sport is growing fast, especially with immigrants from cricket-loving countries like India, Pakistan, and the West Indies bringing their passion. The USA co-hosted the 2024 T20 World Cup, which was a massive boost. They stunned everyone by beating Pakistan in the group stage, thanks to players like Aaron Jones and Nosthush Kenjige. Captain Aaron Jones, with his Jamaican roots, called it a “dream come true.” This was their first-ever Super Eight appearance, and facing the West Indies felt like David vs. Goliath. But the Americans had grit—many players are pros from Major League Cricket (MLC), the USA’s new T20 league. The match was a “virtual eliminator”: win and keep semi-final hopes alive; lose, and it’s tough.
The venue, Kensington Oval, added magic. It’s Barbados’ pride, where Sir Garfield Sobers and other icons played. Rain delayed the toss, but when it happened, West Indies won and chose to bowl first. Why? The pitch looked good for chasing in T20, and they wanted to see what total they’d face. Little did they know, this decision would lead to one of the most one-sided yet inspiring games of the tournament.
The Match Unfolds: USA Bats First
The USA openers, Steven Taylor and Andries Gous, walked out under the floodlights. The crowd—mostly West Indies supporters—roared as Akeal Hosein, the left-arm spinner, took the new ball. T20 cricket is fast-paced: 20 overs per side, big hits, and quick wickets. The USA needed to build a strong total, maybe 160-180, to challenge the West Indies’ explosive batsmen.
It started okay for the USA. Taylor, with his aggressive style, smashed a few boundaries early. But the West Indies bowlers struck back. Alzarri Joseph, the fast bowler, got Gous with a sharp bouncer—caught behind for just 1 run. Score: 4/1 in the first over. Taylor tried to fight, hitting a couple of fours, but Roston Chase, the off-spinner, trapped him lbw (leg before wicket) for 7. Now 11/2. Ahijah Taylor then fell to Joseph, making it 20/3. The USA middle order crumbled under pressure.
Enter Aaron Jones, the captain and a real fighter. He steadied the ship with Nitish Kumar, adding 30 runs. But Chase was on fire—his accurate spin got Kumar for 10. Then, in a cluster of wickets, the USA lost momentum. Harmeet Singh hit a quick 23, but Andre Russell, the big-hitting all-rounder, cleaned up the tail with his pace. Nosthush Kenjige scored a gritty 12, and Ali Khan, usually a bowler, added an unbeaten 14 with a six. But it wasn’t enough. The USA were all out for 128 in just 19.5 overs.
What went wrong? The USA lost wickets in bunches during the middle overs, just like Jones said later: “We needed 175-180; we finished under par.” The West Indies spinners, especially Chase with 3/19, choked the runs. Extras like wides added only 6, showing tight bowling. For a young reader: imagine building a sandcastle, but waves keep knocking it down—that’s how the USA innings felt.
West Indies Chase: A Masterclass in Dominance
Chasing 129 in T20 is doable, but the West Indies made it look like a practice game. Openers Brandon King and Shai Hope needed to set the tone. USA’s bowlers, led by Ali Khan and Saurabh Netravalkar, knew they had to strike early.
But Hope was in beast mode. The wicketkeeper-batsman, opening due to team strategy, played with freedom. He smashed boundaries off Khan, reaching 50 off 28 balls. King supported with 26, but Harmeet Singh got him stumped for 26. Score: 84/1 after 8 overs. Nicholas Pooran joined Hope, and the crowd went wild. Pooran, known for his power, fell to Harmeet for 10, caught in the deep. But it didn’t matter—Hope was unstoppable.
He hammered eight sixes and four fours in his unbeaten 82 off 39 balls. In the 11th over, he finished the game with a massive six over long-off. West Indies reached 130/1 in just 10.5 overs—9 wickets and 55 balls to spare! That’s the second-most balls remaining in a successful T20 World Cup chase over 100. Hope’s knock was pure joy: elegant drives, lofted shots, and that killer instinct. Rovman Powell, watching from the sidelines, called it “special at the Mecca of cricket.”
For the USA bowlers, it was tough. Harmeet took 1/27, but no one else shone. They tried variations—spinners in the powerplay, pace later—but Hope was too good. As Jones reflected: “We tried quick wickets but couldn’t get them.” The West Indies’ net run rate soared, boosting their semi-final chances.
Full United States National Cricket Team vs West Indies Cricket Team Match Scorecard: At a Glance
To make it super easy, here’s the complete scorecard in a table. I’ve kept it simple—no jargon overload. Batsmen scores, bowlers’ figures, and extras are all here. (Note: Runs are totals, overs are how long they batted/bowled.)
USA Innings
| Batsman | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S Taylor | lbw b Chase | 7 | 10 | 1 | 0 |
| A Gous | c †Hope b Joseph | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| A Taylor | c Powell b Joseph | 6 | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| NR Kumar | c King b Chase | 10 | 15 | 0 | 0 |
| AT Jones (c) | c Russell b Chase | 15 | 24 | 0 | 0 |
| HM Singh | c Chase b Joseph | 23 | 20 | 1 | 1 |
| JN Kenjige | c King b Russell | 12 | 15 | 0 | 0 |
| SR Netravalkar | b Russell | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| A Khan | not out | 14 | 6 | 0 | 1 |
| Jasdeep Singh | c King b Russell | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Ali Usman | c sub (SP Narine) b Joseph | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Extras | (lb 3, w 3, nb 1) | 7 | |||
| Total | (all out, 19.5 overs) | 128 | 2 | 2 |
Fall of Wickets: 4-1 (Gous, 0.6 ov), 11-2 (S Taylor, 3.2 ov), 20-3 (A Taylor, 5.4 ov), 50-4 (Kumar, 10.6 ov), 66-5 (Jones, 13.5 ov), 100-6 (Harmeet, 17.1 ov), 100-7 (Netravalkar, 17.2 ov), 120-8 (Kenjige, 18.6 ov), 125-9 (Jasdeep, 19.2 ov), 128-10 (Usman, 19.5 ov)
West Indies Bowling
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Joseph | 4 | 0 | 30 | 4 | 7.50 |
| Akeal Hosein | 4 | 0 | 25 | 0 | 6.25 |
| R Chase | 4 | 0 | 19 | 3 | 4.75 |
| ADS Fletcher | 2 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 6.00 |
| AS Joseph | 2 | 0 | 23 | 0 | 11.50 |
| AD Russell | 3.5 | 0 | 17 | 3 | 4.56 |
West Indies Innings
| Batsman | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BA King | st †Gous b Harmeet | 26 | 20 | 3 | 1 |
| SD Hope (sub)† | not out | 82 | 39 | 4 | 8 |
| N Pooran | c Kenjige b Harmeet | 10 | 8 | 0 | 1 |
| R Powell (c) | not out | 9 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Extras | (lb 1, w 2) | 3 | |||
| Total | (1 wicket, 10.5 overs) | 130 | 8 | 10 |
Fall of Wickets: 84-1 (King, 8.1 ov)
USA Bowling
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ali Khan | 2 | 0 | 23 | 0 | 11.50 |
| SR Netravalkar | 2 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 7.50 |
| A Usman | 2 | 0 | 23 | 0 | 11.50 |
| Jasdeep Singh | 2 | 0 | 31 | 0 | 15.50 |
| JN Kenjige | 1 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 16.00 |
| HM Singh | 1.5 | 0 | 21 | 1 | 11.66 |
Player of the Match: Roston Chase (West Indies) for his 3/19. West Indies won by 9 wickets (55 balls remaining).
Key Moments That Lit Up the Game
Every match has those “wow” instants. Here are a few from this one:
- Joseph’s Early Burst: Alzarri Joseph’s four wickets in four overs shook the USA. His bouncer to Gous was unplayable—like a fast pitch in baseball that fools the batter.
- Chase’s Spin Magic: Roston Chase’s three wickets turned the game. His lbw to Steven Taylor was reviewed but upheld—USA’s review gone early.
- Hope’s Half-Century Fireworks: Shai Hope’s 50 came off 28 balls. He smashed eight sixes, including the winning one. At 35, he showed experience beats youth sometimes.
- USA’s Fightback Attempt: Harmeet Singh’s quick 23 and six gave hope, but Russell’s yorker to Netravalkar (0 off 1) crushed it.
- The Chase Acceleration: After King’s wicket, Hope and Pooran added 28 in 15 balls. Pooran’s six was a highlight before his catch.
These moments show T20’s unpredictability—one bad over, and it’s over!
Player Performances: Stars of the Show
Let’s spotlight the heroes. For West Indies, Shai Hope was the star—his 82* is now his best T20I score. He adapted perfectly, mixing defense with attack. Roston Chase earned Player of the Match for his economical spin; at home in Barbados, he thrived. Andre Russell’s 3/17 was fiery—pace like thunder. Alzarri Joseph (4/30) was the wrecker-in-chief.
For USA, Aaron Jones top-scored with 15, but it wasn’t his day. Harmeet Singh (23 runs, 1/21) showed all-round promise. Ali Khan’s unbeaten 14 was gritty—he’s a bowler by trade but chipped in. Steven Taylor’s early aggression set a tone, but the middle order let them down. Overall, the USA bowlers struggled against Hope’s form.
Stats fun: Hope’s strike rate was 210—meaning over 2 runs per ball! Chase’s economy of 4.75 restricted USA to under 7 runs per over.
What It Meant: Beyond the Score
This match was more than a win for West Indies. It revived their campaign—they beat South Africa next and reached the semi-finals (though lost to South Africa). For USA, it was a learning curve. They finished Super Eights with pride, having beaten Pakistan earlier. Jones said: “We’ll reflect and come back stronger against England.” It highlighted cricket’s global growth—USA’s participation drew new American fans.
Broader impact? The 2024 T20 World Cup in the USA-West Indies boosted the sport. Viewership soared, and MLC gained traction. For kids: This shows anyone can play cricket, even in baseball country. For adults: It’s a reminder of West Indies’ legacy while welcoming newcomers.
The Future: Cricket’s New Horizons
Looking ahead, United States National Cricket Team vs West Indies Cricket Team Match Scorecard could become a rivalry. With Olympics 2028 including cricket, USA’s program will boom. West Indies aim to reclaim T20 glory. Matches like this inspire—proving hard work beats history.
