#TeamUSA have suffered a second straight defeat, this time to a powerful Guyana Jaguars side at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium in Antigua. After a slight rain delay which resulted in no loss of overs, USA captain Ibrahim Khaleel won the toss and elected to bat first on a deck that looked full of runs.
#TeamUSA?? Captain Ibrahim Khaleel has WON the toss here in Antigua and USA will BAT first in the Group B Super50 match, first ball coming up soon
Every ball will be in our LIVE Match Center??: https://t.co/7bUAu9esPA #WeAreUSACricket pic.twitter.com/gfXCDG5feW
— USA Cricket (@usacricket) February 2, 2018
Unfortunately, it was a case of back-to-the-future for the US top order, and Sunny Sohal in particular, dismissed for a duck second ball of the innings from the bowling of former West Indies Under 19’s star Keemo Paul. Things then went from bad to worse, with Jaskaran Malhotra and Khaleel both also dismissed without scoring, leaving the US floundering at 10/3 after 4 overs.
However, a good fighting 60 run partnership between Xavier Marshall and Timil Patel got the innings back on track somewhat, before Patel was undone by a searing Clinton Pestano yorker. Xavier Marshall then brought up a well-deserved half century, his first for #TeamUSA in just his second appearance but was out immediately afterwards, caught in the deep having worked so hard.
50 but then OUT for Xavier Marshall…
A first 50 for #TeamUSA?? for Xavier in his second game, a wonderful innings but USA in trouble now at 96 for 6
Watch LIVE??: https://t.co/7bUAu9esPA #WeAreUSACricket pic.twitter.com/ZSQbsXuE5Y
— USA Cricket (@usacricket) February 2, 2018
Roy Silva and Usman Rafiq came and went in quick succession, and it was left to Mrunal Patel and Elmore Hutchinson to salvage something from the innings. Their partnership was the highlight of the match for the US. They put on 89 runs together, and in so doing took USA to their highest ever score in the West Indies 50 over competition, eclipsing their 186/7 against Trinidad & Tobago in 2008, by finishing on 188/8. Not a score that would overly concern the Jaguars batsmen, but a good effort considering the start, and the fact that they were 99/7 at one stage.
Both Elmore Hutchinson and Saurabh Netravalkar bowled well again at the top, with Elmore claiming the early wicket of Chanderpaul Hemraj. This brought West Indies international, Shimron Hetmyer to the crease for Guyana, and from ball one he looked to be very aggressive. None of the bowlers were spared, as he blasted his way to 103 from just 69 balls including seven soaring sixes into the deep to compliment his eight boundaries. It was a maiden List A century for Hetmyer and was a career best in the 50 over format for him.
By the time he was dismissed the Jaguars only needed a further 22 runs for victory. Leon Johnson marshalled his side to the target with a well compiled 50 not out, with the only other hiccup for the Jaguars being Shivnarine Chanderpaul’s early exit as he retired hurt with what looked like a lower leg injury.
So, another tough day at the office for the boys, but some definite signs of improvement which they’ll take forward into the next match against the Jamaica Scorpions on Tuesday.
Tuesday 6th February: USA v Jamaica Scorpions – Coolidge Cricket Ground, Antigua, 2:00pm Local Time.
Scores: United States of America 188/8 (50/50 ov); Guyana Jaguars 191/2 (32.2/50 ov)
