From being on the brink of elimination in the group stages, England has soared to become the first team to qualify for the semi-finals of the 2024 T20 World Cup. On Sunday, June 23, England secured their spot in the top four by thrashing the USA in their final Super 8 match at the Kensington Oval in Barbados.
England faced a target of 116, which they needed to chase down in 18.4 overs or less to ensure their semi-final berth. The defending champions accomplished this with ease, reaching the target in just 9.4 overs. An aggressive start from openers Jos Buttler and Phil Salt paved the way, dismantling the USA’s bowling attack with their explosive batting.
The victory was anchored by an exceptional bowling performance from England. The USA’s batting line-up was stifled by England’s spin bowlers in the middle overs. Barbados-born Chris Jordan then delivered a masterclass in fast bowling, tearing through the USA’s tail with his first hat-trick in T20I cricket. Jordan’s final over saw him take all three wickets, making him the first English bowler to achieve a hat-trick in a T20 World Cup. His fiery spell meant that the USA lost their last five wickets without adding a single run, collapsing from 115/5 to 115 all-out in the space of six balls.
Jordan’s feat was significant not only for England but also in the history of the T20 World Cup. He became only the second bowler to take four or more wickets in a single over in the tournament, following Ireland’s Curtis Campher, who achieved the milestone against the Netherlands in 2021. This week has been remarkable for fast bowlers in the T20 World Cup, with Pat Cummins securing two hat-tricks in consecutive matches before Jordan’s spectacular achievement. Jordan is now the eighth bowler to secure a hat-trick in the T20 World Cup.
With this dominant performance, England has demonstrated their resilience and prowess, transforming from near elimination to strong contenders for the title. Their comprehensive victory over the USA has set a high standard as they move into the semi-finals, reaffirming their status as defending champions.
