Batting collapse costs USA first Super50 win

A remarkable batting collapse has cost Team USA what for much of the game looked like it would be a first Group B win in the Super50 at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy Stadium in Trinidad.

Captain Saurabh Netravalkar was rested as one of four changes to the starting XI as Head Coach James Pamment continues to assess his options ahead of next month’s Cricket World Cup League 2 Series in the UAE. In stepped vice-captain, Steven Taylor as captain for the night and he lost the toss and USA had to bowl first.

It was a perfect start though for the stand-in captain as first Elmore Hutchinson and then Jessy Singh struck to reduce the local side to 17 for 3 after 6 overs. Singh, Hutchinson and Cameron Stevenson all bowled well with good pace and movement and ended up sharing 6 wickets between them in the innings.

It was Stevenson’s double-strike later in the innings that was backed up by Hutchinson’s second wicket to reduce the Windwards to 128 for 7 and in huge trouble. But it was the experienced hand of Shane Shillingford combined with Keron Cottoy to bring their side up to a competitive total of 225 for 9. Cottoy ended 43 not out but Shillingford’s 3 maximums helped swing the momentum in the match.

After the early loss near the start of the innings for USA of Sagar Patel, consecutive 50+ partnerships between firstly Steven Taylor and Xavier Marshall, and secondly Taylor and Monank Patel put USA in the ascendancy at 117 for 2 with 20 overs still remaining in the innings.

The loss of Taylor for 62 to what is already being described as the catch of the tournament initially seemed not to worry USA who got within 73 runs of the Windwards’ total with just 3 wickets down. The spin duo of Keron Cottoy and Alick Athanaze then sparked an extraordinary collapse in the USA batting line-up. Monank, Nisarg and then Timil Patel all were dismissed within the space of 7 balls and the match was turned upside down.

Stevenson fought valiantly and hit two boundaries but he ended up being stranded not out on 18*, as USA were bowled out in the 46th Over still 43 runs short of the total and USA were left to rue not just the batting collapse but the inability to close out the Winwards batting innings as well.

Tomorrow is a day off for Team USA before our first meeting of the home side, Trinidad and Tobago on Friday at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy Stadium.

Score in brief:

Windward Island Volcanoes beat USA by 43 runs at Brian Lara Cricket Stadium, Trinidad

Windward Island Volcanoes 225 for 9 50.0 Overs (Desron Moloney 44, Jessy Singh 2 for 24, Cameron Stevenson 2 for 43, Elmore Hutchinson 2 for 43)

USA 182 All Out 45.5 Overs (Steven Taylor 62, Monank Patel 37, Keron Cottoy 5 for 37) 

Team USA’s schedule for the Super 50 is as follows:

November 9 USA vs West Indies Emerging Players – Lost by 6 Wickets
November 11 USA vs Guyana Jaguars – Lost by 13 runs
November 13 USA vs Windward Island Volcanoes – Lost by 43 runs
November 15 USA vs Trinidad & Tobago Red Force
November 19 USA vs West Indies Emerging Players
November 21 USA vs Trinidad & Tobago Red Force
November 23 USA vs Windward Island Volcanoes
November 25 USA vs Guyana Jaguars

See the full schedule by clicking here.

Team USA squad:

Saurabh Netravalkar (C – Marin 1, Northern California Cricket Association)
Steven Taylor (VC – Sheffield Cricket Club, New York Metropolitan Cricket League)
Karima Gore (Antigua)
Ian Holland (Hampshire, England)
Akshay Homraj (Galaxy Cricket Club, Eastern American Cricket Association)
Elmore Hutchinson (Caribbean CC, Southern California Cricket Association)
Aaron Jones (Atlantis Cricket Club, New York Metropolitan Cricket League)
Nosthush Kenjige (Atlantis Cricket Club, New York Metropolitan Cricket League)
Xavier Marshall (Triggers Cricket Club, Houston Cricket League)
Monank Patel (Freedom Cricket Club, Cricket League of New Jersey)
Nisarg Patel (Vijayta Cricket Club, Southern California Cricket Association)
Sagar Patel (Indian Lions, ArkTenn Cricket League)
Timil Patel (Vijayta Cricket Club, Southern California Cricket Association)
Jasdeep Singh (Smashers Cricket Club, Cricket League of New Jersey)
Cameron Stevenson (Carlton Cricket Club, Australia)
Rusty Theron (Potomac Cricket Club, Washington Cricket League)*

*Rusty Theron will join the squad from Game 5 onwards