#TeamUSA have lost heavily to the Leeward Islands Hurricanes in their first match of the Cricket West Indies Super50 tournament at the Coolidge Cricket Ground, Antigua. The eventual margin of victory, 156 runs, came courtesy of a big batting collapse after the USA were handily placed at 87/1 in the 18th over requiring 299 to win. Man-of-the-match Rahkeem Cornwall with 3 wickets, and Akeal Hosein with 5/26 destroyed the visitors middle and lower order, with the men in red, white and blue looking short of match practice after their warm-up game was washed out on Monday.
Earlier Leeward Islands had posted 298/8 in their 50 overs on the back of a bruising 132 not out off 93 balls by Cornwall. He smashed 9 sixes and 8 boundaries in a stunning display of power hitting, being particularly harsh on Timil Patel’s bowling who finished with the most expensive figures of the game with 2/76 off 9. The two opening bowlers for the US in Elmore Hutchinson and Saurabh Netravalkar, did a good job initially.
Hutchinson snuck through the defenses of both Keiran Powell and Marlon Samuels early to have the Leewards in some trouble at 27/2. Unfortunately, the rest of the bowlers couldn’t back up the good job done up front by the two big left arm seamers, with only Noshtush Kenjige able to create any pressure for any length of time during the middle overs.
A very special moment before the game today for the 4 debutants that make their debut for #TeamUSA?? today in Antigua.
Congratulations to Jaskaran Malhotra, Saurabh Netravalkar, Xavier Marshall, and Sunny Sohal!#WeAreUSACricket pic.twitter.com/NBoZaUn6xA
— USA Cricket (@usacricket) January 31, 2018
The new men for USA showed that their rapid rise to the national team was justified, with Jaskaran Malhotra (47) and Xavier Marshall (40) the only batsmen to offer any resistance as the floodlights took full effect over the Antiguan sky. Netravalkar was impressive with 2 for 45 from his 10, bowling with control and enough seam movement to cause even the well set Leewards batsman trouble. Only poor Sunny Sohal of the debutants had a disappointing return, getting an absolute peach of a ball first up to give USA’s run chase the worst possible start.
Next up for USA it’s a quick turn-around to play the Guyana Jaguars on Friday.
Full Schedule: Friday 2nd February: USA v Guyana Jaguars – Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground, Antigua, 9am Local Time.
Scores: Leeward Islands 298/8 (50/50 ov); United States of America 142 All Out (38.5/50 ov)
