Last Thursday, the USA cricket team produced arguably the biggest upset in Men’s T20 World Cup history by defeating Pakistan in a thriller in Dallas. Today, they will aim to produce perhaps the biggest upset in cricket history as they take on India in Group A action at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in East Meadow, New York.
On June 1, following their victory over rival Canada in the tournament opener, the USA encountered a challenging task of defeating Pakistan. However, despite the odds, the Americans displayed great determination after being assigned a target of 160. As the match reached its climax, with only one ball remaining, Nitish Kumar rose to the occasion and secured a crucial boundary, resulting in a tied match.
In the following Super Over, the USA displayed exceptional performance with both bat and ball. Aaron Jones started off with a boundary on the very first delivery, setting the tone for the team. Pakistan then came to bat, requiring 19 runs for victory. With only 18 runs to defend, bowler Saurabh Netravalkar rose to the occasion and made a remarkable impact in cricket history. He claimed a crucial wicket and conceded just 13 runs, sealing a momentous outcome for the tournament co-hosts.
Therefore, the USA has a strong chance of qualifying for the Super 8s. Even if they lose today, a victory against Ireland on Friday in Lauderhill, Florida would guarantee their spot in the next round.
T20 World Cup Group A Table
- India – 4 points (Net Run Rate: 1.455)
- USA – 4 points (NRR: 0.626)
- Pakistan – 2 points (NRR: 0.191)
- Canada – 2 points (NRR: -0.493)
- Ireland – 0 points (NRR: -1.712)
Net run rate, for those who are not acquainted with cricket, is a crucial factor in determining the team that progresses in case of a tie at the end of the tournament. Essentially, it is the average runs scored per over by a team throughout the tournament, subtracted by the average runs conceded per over.
In the event that the USA manages to avoid a significant defeat against India, they could potentially stay in the running for the Super 8s, despite a potential loss to Ireland. This outcome will depend on the outcome of the match between Ireland and USA, as well as the match between Pakistan and Ireland, taking place on Saturday.
However, is it possible for the Americans to achieve the unimaginable today and render all that irrelevant? The chances are undoubtedly slim, particularly considering India’s impressive performance in bowling throughout the tournament.
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USA vs India Odds
USA vs India cricket odds are courtesy of BetOnline, a longtime fixture in the sports betting industry. Check out our BetOnline sportsbook review, then grab yourself a nice sign-up bonus to bet on the tournament there.
Moneyline
- USA +800
- India -1250
Can the USA Challenge India?
The shorter format of T20 cricket allows for a higher likelihood of unexpected outcomes compared to longer forms of the sport. Taking a few early or well-timed wickets can greatly benefit a team’s overall performance. Similarly, building a strong partnership or having a player in a good batting rhythm can significantly impact a team’s success.
The USA managed to capture three wickets in just 4.4 overs against Pakistan. Although Pakistan made a decent recovery after that, they couldn’t post a total that would have ensured a comfortable lead.
With the bat, the Americans never let the target get out of reach, even after losing Andries Gous and captain Monank Patel in the 14th and 15th overs. Even as things looked dicey when 11 runs off of the final three balls were needed to just force a Super Over, they remained composed and confident.
Once again, a significant amount of composure and confidence will be required to challenge India, who have commenced the T20 World Cup with triumphs over Ireland (by eight wickets) and Pakistan (by six runs).
Up until now, bowling has proved to be India’s greatest asset. In their first match, they limited Ireland to a mere 96 runs and effortlessly achieved the small target in only 12.2 overs. In their encounter with Pakistan, their batting performance resulted in a modest total of 119 runs. However, their exceptional bowling display, spearheaded by Jasprit Bumrah’s impressive figures of 3 wickets for 14 runs in four overs, successfully defended the score.
India will definitely not underestimate this match, especially after witnessing the USA’s impressive performance against Pakistan. Although it’s not to suggest that they would have taken it lightly before, their attitude towards the game has certainly changed.
Consequently, there is a possibility of witnessing a significant triumph for the favored team. However, it would be unwise to underestimate the USA’s potential to create a more competitive environment than anticipated.
USA vs India Prediction: India to win
USA vs India Picks: Over 243.5 runs (-115 at BetOnline)
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