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5 incredible facts about Jasprit Bumrah in the 2024 T20 World Cup

Charbel Coorey
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5 incredible facts about Jasprit Bumrah in the 2024 T20 World Cup

Jasprit Bumrah has been outstanding in the 2024 T20 World Cup: Here are 5 incredible facts about his performance in the tournament.

Jasprit Bumrah’s performance in the 2024 T20 World Cup will go down as one of the best contributions in the history of this tournament. The great fast bowler was simply outstanding, winning player of the tournament as he led India to a drought-breaking title win.

Bumrah’s 2/18 in the final looks good on paper. However, it was so much more than that. South Africa needed 30 off 30 balls to win with six wickets in hand, but when you have two overs from this star bowler up your sleeve, anything is possible. It proved to be the case as Bumrah conceded just six off his final 12 balls to help set up India’s win.

His numbers are truly elite. Here is a look at five extraordinary facts about Bumrah as he led India’s charge in the World Cup.

5 facts about Jasprit Bumrah in the 2024 T20 World Cup

More wickets taken than boundaries conceded

Bumrah took 15 wickets in the tournament. Incredibly, he conceded just 12 boundaries (10 fours, two sixes) in total.

At one stage, Bumrah had 10 wickets and conceded just five boundaries. These are numbers you sit and stare at in awe.

110 dot balls out of 178 deliveries

Bumrah sent down 178 deliveries in this T20 World Cup. 110 weren’t scored off, equating to an incredible dot-ball percentage of 61.80%. Building such pressure allows the other bowlers to flourish, with the likes of Arshdeep Singh and Hardik Pandya among the beneficiaries.

In fact, the amount of wickets taken off the first ball off the next over after Bumrah bowls is quite remarkable.

Economy rate of 4.17

An ecomomy rate of 4.17 is elite in ODI cricket. It is even acceptable in Test cricket at times these days. But such an economy in T20s is mindblowing.

Bumrah’s economy of 4.17 was nearly a run-and-a-half better than the next best – 5.46 by Bangladesh’s Mustafizur Rahman (min. 150 balls bowled). In fact, among the top 23 best economy rates in the tournament, Bumrah is the only bowler to send down more than 20 overs (29.4).

Also, Bumrah’s 4.17 is the best economy rate in a single edition of any men’s T20 World Cup (min. 100 balls bowled). He beat Sunil Narine’s record of 4.60 in 2014.

26% of the runs scored off Bumrah were “not in control” by the batter

According to ESPNcricinfo’s measures, 32 of the 124 runs scored off Bumrah were “not in control”. Typically this will mean an edge, mistimed shot or the like. That equates to over a quarter of the runs he conceded (26%).

Average of 8.26 runs per wicket in the 2024 T20 World Cup

Overall, Bumrah’s figures read 29.4-2-124-15. Those numbers are the kind you’ll see from a player who is way too good in junior cricket. Yet, India’s talisman churned out those numbers in a World Cup of all events.

India fans are currently in awe of the pace bowler they have in their ranks. Rightly so. No matter the format or situation, Bumrah has the answers.

And, you can be sure he will be a handful for the Australians in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy down under later this year. He is that guy.

ENG vs SA Dream11 Prediction, Fantasy Cricket Tips, Possible XIs, Pitch Report – 2024 T20 World Cup 45th Match

Charbel Coorey
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0
ENG vs SA Dream11 Prediction, Fantasy Cricket Tips, Possible XIs, Pitch Report – 2024 T20 World Cup 45th Match

2024 T20 World Cup 45th Match: ENG vs SA Dream11 Prediction Today – Fantasy Cricket TIps, Possible XIs, St Lucia Pitch Report

The 2024 T20 World Cup is heating up. There is no time to dwell on performances. England and South Africa go head-to-head less than 48 hours after their respective previous matches, with the winner set to take a huge step towards the semi-finals.

This is especially the case for England. They have a net run rate of +1.34 after smashing West Indies in an impressive display on Wednesday night. Despite the promising showings of the USA, one can expect England to win that game, so a victory here just about seals a spot in the final four.

South Africa are unbeaten in this World Cup. Their ability to find ways to win is commendable. However, there is room for improvement and they will be hoping to peak at the right time. Their top order remains vital, while their pace attack has a big task in keeping England’s batting lineup – which is warming up nicely – as quiet as possible.

Match Details

  • 45th match of the 2024 T20 World Cup: England vs South Africa (Super 8s).
  • Time: 10:30am (local), 8pm (IST).
  • Location: Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia.

2024 T20 World Cup 45th Match: ENG vs SA Possible Playing XIs

England: 1. Phil Salt, 2. Jos Buttler (c & wk), 3. Moeen Ali, 4. Jonny Bairstow, 5. Harry Brook, 6. Liam Livingstone, 7. Sam Curran, 8. Jofra Archer, 9. Adil Rashid, 10. Mark Wood/Chris Jordan, 11. Reece Topley

South Africa: 1. Quinton de Kock (wk), 2. Reeza Hendricks, 3. Aiden Markam (c), 4. Tristan Stubbs, 5. Heinrich Klaasen, 6. David Miller, 7. Marco Jansen, 8. Keshav Maharaj, 9. Kagiso Rabada, 10. Tabraiz Shamsi/Ottneil Baartman, 11. Anrich Nortje

Fantasy Cricket Tips for ENG vs SA: Top Dream11 Picks for Super 8s Match

Top batter picks:

  • Phil Salt: The opener has been in fine touch in recent months. After a strong IPL, Salt roared back into form with a dominant 87* against West Indies, where he played the dominant role in the powerplay.
  • Jonny Bairstow: Bairstow nailed the number four role against West Indies. Also, he has the most runs in ENG-SA T20Is: 13 inns, 485 runs, avg. 44.09, SR 150.15.
  • Bairstow has smashed 117 off 65 against Shamsi in T20Is (two dismissals).
  • Quinton de Kock: The keeper-batsman found form with 74 against the USA. Overall against England, de Kock has 340 runs at an average of 28.33 and strike rate of 157.40.
  • de Kock has good numbers against Jofra Archer in all T20s: 45 balls, 82 runs, two dismissals.
  • Heinrich Klaasen: The magnificent spin-hitter has struck 74 runs in 46 balls against Adil Rashid in T20s (three dismissals).

Top all-rounder picks:

  • Moeen Ali: England could look at batting Moeen at number three again to counter Keshav Maharaj. Also, England could look to his offspin against Quinton de Kock, especially given he has dismissed de Kock six times in 59 balls in all T20s (74 runs).

Top bowler picks:

  • Kagiso Rabada: The pacer was in good touch against the USA. He could be a key matchup against Bairstow with a head-to-head record reading: 40 balls, 54 runs, two wickets.
  • Anrich Nortje: The fast bowler is the second-highest wicket-taker in this T20 World Cup: 5 inns, 10 wickets, avg. 10.70, SR 12.00.
  • Jofra Archer: Expect Archer to bowl in the crunch overs. He is England’s leading wicket-taker in this tournament (6), striking every 15.33 balls.

Other Players to consider for your Fantasy Cricket Teams

  • Reece Topley: The left-armer has dismissed Quinton de Kock four times in 34 balls in T20s (50 runs).
  • Jos Buttler: The England captain has scored 107 runs off just 68 balls against Rabada in all T20s (two dismissals).
  • Aiden Markram: The South African captain spent some time at the crease against the USA. He should enjoy the better batting conditions at St Lucia. Markram has two half-centuries in as many T20Is against England at a strike rate of 168.85.
  • Tabraiz Shamsi: The spinner strikes every 16.12 deliveries in 12 T20Is against England.

St Lucia Pitch and Weather Report

Conditions have been good for batting at St Lucia. The average first innings score is 187. But, England’s spinners found some grip against West Indies. It will be interesting to see how conditions play during this day game.

A mostly clear and humid day is forecast.

2024 T20 World Cup 45th Match: ENG vs SA Dream11 Prediction Today

Note: The below teams are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these in time. Use the stats and commentary in this article, as well as your own instincts, to create your teams

Top captaincy/vice-captaincy picks: Phil Salt, Quinton de Kock, Jos Buttler, Heinrich Klaasen.

Option 1:

2024 T20 World Cup 45th Match: ENG vs SA Dream11 Prediction Today - Fantasy Cricket TIps, Possible XIs, St Lucia Pitch Report
2024 T20 World Cup 45th Match: ENG vs SA Dream11 Prediction Today

Option 2:

2024 T20 World Cup 45th Match: ENG vs SA Dream11 Prediction Today - Fantasy Cricket TIps, Possible XIs, St Lucia Pitch Report
2024 T20 World Cup 45th Match: ENG vs SA Dream11 Prediction Today

Thanks for reading! We hope you enjoyed this article.

The stats in this article are from the following sources:

Disclaimer: The fantasy cricket stats, tips and predictions provided on CricBlog are intended for informational purposes, with the stats and writer’s views in place to guide fans in creating their teams. While we strive to offer accurate and insightful advice, CricBlog does not guarantee success or winnings in any fantasy contests. Users are encouraged to make their own informed decisions and play responsibly.

Adam Zampa key to Australia’s T20 World Cup hopes – Graeme Smith

Charbel Coorey
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0
Adam Zampa key to Australia’s T20 World Cup hopes – Graeme Smith

Graeme Smith has pinpointed Adam Zampa as the key man in Australia’s 2024 T20 World Cup push. In an interview with Betway, the former South African captain believes Australia look like the favourites as the Super Eights stage has got underway.

“The other team that’s really looking like they’re on top of their game is Australia,” Smith said.

“We know they come together and play so well in these world events, and they’ve got a lot of players in form with both bat and ball.”

Graeme Smith believes Adam Zampa can lead Australia to the title

Legspinner Adam Zampa has been a key cog in Australia’s white-ball successes over the past few years. He continues to deliver consistent performances, underpinned by his ability to hit the right length time and again.

“Adam Zampa is such a key figure for them,” Smith said. “He looks like he’s bowling really well, the conditions will suit him and he’s been a stand-out player of the tournament so far.”

Zampa has been in the wickets in every game of the T20 World Cup to date. He took 2/24 against Oman followed by an impressive 2/28 that won him man of the match against England. He then won man of the match against Namibia (4/12) and finished the group stage with 1/30 against Scotland.

Zampa’s form is a reason why Smith believes Australia are the favourites. However, he provided a caveat that some teams had to play on the difficult surfaces at the Nassau County International Stadium in New York.

“I’d say Australia are looking like the favourites,” Smith said. “But it’s very difficult to judge teams that have been in New York. It’s so hard to know what kind of form they are in when playing in those conditions.

“At this stage, it’s just about small margins and getting the job done. If you get away with three wins and qualification like South Africa have, you’re over the moon.”

Australia are aiming to become the first team to hold all three major ICC titles simultaneously. They won both the World Test Championship and ODI World Cup in what was a magnificent 2023 for the men’s team.

AFG vs IND Dream11 Prediction, Fantasy Cricket Tips, Possible XIs, Pitch Report – T20 World Cup 2024 43rd Match

Aditya Narsale
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0
AFG vs IND Dream11 Prediction, Fantasy Cricket Tips, Possible XIs, Pitch Report – T20 World Cup 2024 43rd Match

2024 T20 World Cup 43rd Match: AFG vs IND Dream11 Prediction Today – Fantasy Cricket Tips, Possible XIs, Barbados Pitch and Weather Report

Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados will host this huge clash between two subcontinental sides, India and Afghanistan. The game will be the first among group 1 of Super 8’s round of this World Cup edition.

India is coming with three wins in three games at New York with a game getting abandoned due to rain in Florida. The Rohit Sharma-led side now has a busy schedule as they have to play three games at three different venues in five days.

This being the first one in the Super 8s, the Indian players would be quite excited about taking the field. Historically, they have dominated the Afghan side in T20Is, beating them in each of the seven games they’ve played. However, this is going to be a huge test regarding qualification to the semi-finals with Australia and Bangladesh also in this group.

The Rashid Khan-led Afghanistan was also excellent in the initial round as they performed superbly in the first three games. They restricted opponents below 100 on all three occasions. They had a bad day against West Indies, but one can argue it was the right time for a wake up call as nothing was riding on that match.

Like their New Zealand game in the previous round, this India clash is going to be an important game for them. If they hold their nerves and perform well, they can make a huge step towards the semi-finals.

Match Details

  • 43rd Match of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 between Afghanistan & India.
  • Time: June 20, 10:30 AM (Local) & 8:00 PM (IST).
  • Venue: Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados.

T20 World Cup 2024 43rd Match: IND vs AFG Possible Playing XIs

Afghanistan: 1. Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), 2. Ibrahim Zadran, 3. Najibullah Zadran, 4. Azmatullah Omarzai, 5. Mohammad Nabi, 6. Gulbadin Naib, 7. Karim Janat, 8. Rashid Khan (c), 9. Mujeeb Ur Rahman/Noor Ahmad, 10. Naveen-ul-Haq, 11. Fazalhaq Farooqi

India: 1. Rohit Sharma (c), 2. Virat Kohli, 3. Rishabh Pant (wk), 4. Suryakumar Yadav, 5. Shivam Dube, 6. Hardik Pandya, 7. Ravindra Jadeja, 8. Axar Patel, 9. Jasprit Bumrah, 10. Mohammed Siraj, 11. Arshdeep Singh

Fantasy Cricket Tips for IND vs AFG: Top Dream11 Picks for the Super 8s Clash

Top batter picks

  • The new batting position –  No. 3 – has seemed to be an aid for Rishabh Pant. He has looked the best batter among his teammates in this tournament with 96 runs to his name. Playing against Afghanistan, he has 47 runs in 29 balls.
  • Virat Kohli hasn’t been at his best in the American leg, but now with the venue being shifted to the West Indies, Indian fans would expect him to get back on track. The World Cup maestro has an average of 67 and a strike rate of 172 while batting against Afghanistan.
  • Rahmanullah Gurbaz is the highest run scorer of the initial round of the tournament with 167 runs to his name. He has stuck at 150.45 and has looked confident in his strokes thus far.
  • Another opener, Ibrahim Zadran, also has an opportunity to make it count in an important event like this. He has scored 152 runs in the tournament so far. Playing against India, he has scored 147 runs in four T20Is so far.

Top all-rounder picks

  • After a forgettable IPL, Hardik Pandya is back with his better version and hasn’t failed to impress fans with his bowling. He has scalped seven wickets in three innings at an economy of 5.41. He is yet to get a chance to deliver with the bat but that could be around the corner.
  • Gulbadin Naib has performed very well since the start of this World Cup. His performance in practice games as well as the first round has made the Afghanistan side stable in terms of middle-order batting. With the ball, he has bowled just two overs so far in which he has taken two wickets. In T20Is, he has scored 162 at avg of 54 against India – he played brilliantly against them earlier this year.

Top bowler picks

  • Jasprit Bumrah has an economy of 4.09 with five wickets to his name. Expect him to test the Afghans in the crunch overs.
  • Arshdeep Singh is doing a great job for his side as the left-arm bowler has scalped seven wickets. His wicket-taking ability in the powerplay makes him a vital bowler for India, especially against the Afghan openers who are crucial. Bowling against Afghanistan, he has picked up five wickets in four innings.
  • Fazalhaq Farooqi has been one of the best bowlers in this World Cup. The left-arm pacer has scalped 12 wickets in just four outings. He can be a threat for the Indian skipper in early overs who has already been dismissed twice by left-arm pacers. 

Other Players to Consider for your Fantasy Cricket Teams

  • Rashid Khan got hammered for runs in the last game against West Indies but he is always a match-winner and has enough of experience to make a comeback. He has seven wickets in this tournament so far.
  • Rohit Sharma scored a fifty in the first game against Ireland but has looked quiet after that match. Rohit played a wonderful knock of 79* (46) at this venue back in the 2010 WC. While playing against Afghans, he has a strike rate of 163.3 and averages 65.3 in T20Is. 

Kensington Oval Barbados Pitch Report And Weather

The average first innings score here is 143.8 which suggests that the pitch is balanced. The pitch also behaves slow usually which gives an upper hand to the spinners but pacers also have done damage at this venue. Australia scored just over 200 here in the last game played here which was successfully defended. 

Slight chances of rain are forecasted in early stage of the game but weather is expected to clear.

2024 T20 World Cup 43rd Match: AFG vs IND Dream11 Prediction Today

Captain/Vice Captain Options:

  • Virat Kohli averages 67.41 in the T20 World Cups. He can be a good option for the captaincy of the fantasy team. 
  • Jasprit Bumrah is always a safe option if you want to go against the risk while captaining in your fantasy team.
  • Both, Fazalhaq Farooqi & Arshdeep Singh are risky but rewarding players in terms of backing them to lead one’s fantasy team.

Option 1:

2024 T20 World Cup 43rd Match: AFG vs IND Dream11 Prediction Today - Fantasy Cricket Tips, Possible XIs, Barbados Pitch and Weather Report
2024 T20 World Cup 43rd Match: AFG vs IND Dream11 Prediction Today

Option 2:

2024 T20 World Cup 43rd Match: AFG vs IND Dream11 Prediction Today - Fantasy Cricket Tips, Possible XIs, Barbados Pitch and Weather Report
2024 T20 World Cup 43rd Match: AFG vs IND Dream11 Prediction Today

Thanks for reading! We hope you enjoyed this article.

Disclaimer: The fantasy cricket stats, tips and predictions provided on CricBlog are intended for informational purposes, with the stats and writer’s views in place to guide fans in creating their teams. While we strive to offer accurate and insightful advice, CricBlog does not guarantee success or winnings in any fantasy contests. Users are encouraged to make their own informed decisions and play responsibly.

USA vs SA Dream11 Prediction, Fantasy Cricket Tips, Possible XIs, Pitch Report – 2024 T20 World Cup 41st Match

Aditya Narsale
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0
USA vs SA Dream11 Prediction, Fantasy Cricket Tips, Possible XIs, Pitch Report – 2024 T20 World Cup 41st Match

After a closely fought round of games featuring 20 sides at the biggest T20 World Cup, we head onto the next and penultimate round of the event – namely Super 8s.

Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in alluring Antigua is all set to host the clash between United States of America and South Africa. USA has had a superb tournament thus far, surprising one and all by qualifying to the next round.

They knocked over Pakistan – the finalists of previous edition of T20 World Cup – in a magnificent scalp. It will be an even bigger moment for the Monank Patel-led side if they make it count at this stage.

On the other hand, South Africa are the invincibles so far making four out of four victories. But, they have found ways to win from difficult positions. Their batting needs to fire, but the South African side is full of superstars and can be seen as a contender for the World Cup.

Match Details

  • 41st Match of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 between USA and SA.
  • 1st match of Super 8 round (group 2).
  • Time: 10:30 AM (Local) & 8:00 PM (IST).
  • Venue: Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound, Antigua.

2024 T20 World Cup 41st Match: USA vs SA Possible Playing XI

South Africa: 1. Quinton de Kock (wk), 2. Reeza Hendriks, 3. Aiden Markram (c), 4. Heinrich Klassen, 5. David Miller, 6. Tristan Stubbs, 7.Marco Jansen, 8. Kagiso Rabada, 9. Anrich Nortje, 10. Ottneil Baartman, 11. Tabraiz Shamsi/Keshav Maharaj

USA: 1. Steven Taylor, 2. Monank Patel (c & wk), 3. Andries Gous, 4. Aaron Jones, 5. Nitish Kumar, 6. Corey Anderson, 7. Harmeet Singh, 8. Shadley van Schalkwyk/Nosthush Kenjige, 9. Jasdeep Singh, 10. Saurabh Netravalkar, 11. Ali Khan.

Fantasy Cricket Tips for the Super 8s match between USA vs SA: Top Dream11 picks

Top batter picks

  • Quinton de Kock hasn’t been in a dream form in this tournament thus far; scoring 20, 0, 18, 10 in his four innings. But, now is the crunch time where he can deliver. He has decent numbers playing against left arm orthodox and right arm medium pacers in T20Is.
  • Heinrich Klaasen the fielder was the man of the moment in SA’s 1-run win over Nepal where his direct hit saved his team. But Klassen the batter needs to fire up in this crucial round where a win in every game is must for his side. He has scored 72 runs in four games so far.
  • David Miller is the top run scorer (101) for SA thus far. He is also the only batter to score a fifty among his teammates. He also has some experience playing at this venue: he scored 33 (26) and 49 (35)* in a T20I and ODI respectively back in 2010.
  • Aaron Jones is one of the main reasons USA qualified for the Super 8s round as the right hander has scored 141 runs, striking at 160.22. He stands fourth in highest run-scorers list. Playing at this venue, he has scored 67 runs in 53 balls in T20Is.
  • South Africa-born player Andries Gous has played a vital role in the success of USA in this WC, scoring 102 runs at a strike rate of 132.46. His ability and intent makes him a special player, and he will be motivated to perform against his country of birth.

Top all-rounder picks

  • Captain Aiden Markram hasn’t been at his best with the bat in recent times. Batting at Number 3, he has a huge role to play on these surfaces. He could also bowl himself if conditions suit.
  • Left-arm pacer Arshdeep did serious damage to the USA batting line-up and hence we can expect left arm pacer Marco Jansen to come good at the Antigua Stadium.

Top bowler picks

  • Anrich Nortje is having an excellent tournament as the speedstar has scalped as many as nine wickets in four innings. Expect him to test USA with his pace.
  • Left arm chinaman bowler from J’Burg, Tabraiz Shamsi got the opportunity to feature in the XI in their last game against Nepal where he won the player of the match award for his spell of 4/19.
  • Saurabh Netravalkar has managed to leave a mark on the fans all over the globe as he successfully led his side in super over against Pakistan and also scalped wickets of Rohit and Virat in the India game. The Bombay born left arm pacer, has scalped four wickets in three innings bowling at economy of 5.20. Comparatively, he has very good numbers in bowling to right-handers.

Other Players to Consider

  • Veteran Kagiso Rabada has a huge role to play with his four overs quota. Expect him to hit the pitch hard in the powerplay, and he can take wickets at the death.
  • Pakistan-born pacer Ali Khan has taken one wicket in each of the three games he’s played. He has good potential to take wickets, especially against right-handed batters in T20s. He can be a differential pick with respect to your fantasy team.

Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound, Antigua Pitch Report and Weather

The pitch could offer a decent pace and bounce for the quick bowlers as well as turn for the spinners. Out of four games played here, three have been won by chasing sides. England hit 122 in 10 overs against Namibia. Before that, England rolled Oman for 47 and Australia hammered Namibia. Scotland also chased 151 against Oman with 41 balls to spare.

Unfortunately, as per the forecast, rain is likely to interrupt the game but we can hope to have a complete match. The toss winning captain would not hesitate to chase.   

2024 T20 World Cup 41st Match: USA vs SA Dream11 Prediction Today

Note: The below teams are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these in time. Use the stats and commentary in this article, as well as your own instincts, to create your teams

Captaincy/Vice Captaincy Picks

  • Anrich Nortje is in red hot form and is taking wickets in every game. One can expect at least 2 wickets from the hustler. So, this is surely a safe option for Captaincy at this point of time.
  • A big innings from Quinton de Kock is due.
  • The wrist spinners have been beneficial at this venue so Tabraiz Shamsi is another good option to think of.
  • A differential pick for your fantasy teams’s vice captaincy could be a South African player playing against his own country, Andries Gous.

Option 1:

2024 T20 World Cup 41st Match: USA vs SA Dream11 Prediction, Fantasy Cricket Tips, Possible XIs, Antigua Pitch Report for Super 8s
2024 T20 World Cup 41st Match: USA vs SA Dream11 Prediction Today

Option 2:

2024 T20 World Cup 41st Match: USA vs SA Dream11 Prediction, Fantasy Cricket Tips, Possible XIs, Antigua Pitch Report for Super 8s
2024 T20 World Cup 41st Match: USA vs SA Dream11 Prediction Today

Disclaimer: The fantasy cricket stats, tips and predictions provided on CricBlog are intended for informational purposes, with the stats and writer’s views in place to guide fans in creating their teams. While we strive to offer accurate and insightful advice, CricBlog does not guarantee success or winnings in any fantasy contests. Users are encouraged to make their own informed decisions and play responsibly.

List of lowest scores defended at a Men’s T20 World Cup

Charbel Coorey
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0
List of lowest scores defended at a Men’s T20 World Cup

The 2024 T20 World Cup has seen three of the lowest score ever defended in the tournament’s history. After the run-fest that was the 2024 Indian Premier League, bowlers have had a strong say on bowler-friendly surfaces across the West Indies and United States of America.

Top 5 lowest scores defended in men’s T20 World Cup history

Incredibly, the three records were set even before the Super Eights. Here is the list of the top five lowest scores ever defended in the history of the men’s T20 World Cup.

5. 123 by Afghanistan vs. West Indies, Nagpur, 2016

A win that helped catapult Afghanistan cricket to new heights. Their win over eventual champions West Indies in 2016 was a great moment in their history, with their bowlers rallying to limit the strong Windies lineup to 117/8 in pursuit of 124.

Amir Hamza (1/9) was outstanding upfront. Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan (both 2/26) kept the squeeze on.

Earlier, the Afghans fought their way to 123/7 with Najibullah Zadran top-scoring with 48* off 40 balls.

4. 119 by Sri Lanka vs. New Zealand, 2014

Rangana Herath took 5/3 on an incredible night for Sri Lanka in Chattogram. New Zealand would have felt right in the game as they restricted the eventual champions to just 119, but they were no match with the bat.

Only Kane Williamson (42 off 42 balls) scored more than five. Herath went on a rampage, bamboozling the Black Caps batsmen with flight and a mix of deliveries that spun and those that went straight on.

3. 119 by India vs. Pakistan, New York, 2024

India put archrivals Pakistan on the brink of elimination when they were on the brink of losing this game. Chasing 120, Pakistan needed 48 off 48 balls with eight wickets in hand and looked odds on to win.

Enter Jasprit Bumrah. He dismissed Mohammad Rizwan to give India a sniff. Axar Patel, Hardik Pandya, and Mohammed Siraj then kept things tight before Bumrah delivered the knockout blow in the penultimate over that just went for three.

On a tricky New York pitch, India managed just 119. Pakistan’s poor finish was a key reason why they were eventually eliminated.

2. 113 by South Africa vs. Bangladesh, New York 2024

Another game in New York, another record lowest score defended. South Africa held on to pull off an incredible four-run win when Bangladesh looked odds on themselves to win.

In the end, the match was marred by some controversy with Bangladesh denied four leg byes off an LBW decision was successfully overturned on review. But, they still had their chances and couldn’t quite finish the job even with some full tosses delivered.

Earlier, Heinrich Klaasen (46 off 44 balls) and David Miller (29 off 38 balls) took South Africa from the depths to 23/4 to a defendable score.

1. 105 by Bangladesh vs. Nepal, St Vincent, 2024

A Super Eights spot looked in danger for Bangladesh as they fell to 75/8 and 88/9 against a buoyant Nepal attack. But, Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman added a crucial 18 runs to help take Bangladesh over the 100-run mark, which looked a defendable total on a difficult batting surface.

Apart from a 52-run stand in the middle between Dipendra Singh Airee and Kushal Malla, Nepal couldn’t cope. Tanzim Hasan Sakib bowled a record 21 dot balls in his four-over burst where he finished with 4/7. Mustafizur Rahman was also magnificent, taking 3/7 which included a penultimate over wicket maiden when Nepal still had a sniff.

The Tigers won by 21 runs to seal their spot in the Super Eights of the 2024 T20 World Cup.

What are the groups for the Super Eights of the 2024 T20 World Cup?

Charbel Coorey
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0
What are the groups for the Super Eights of the 2024 T20 World Cup?

The 2024 T20 World Cup Super Eights have been confirmed. India, USA, Australia, England, Afghanistan, West Indies, South Africa, and Bangladesh are the eight teams to progress from round 1.

With the pre-tournament seeding taking effect, here are the two groups for what shapes up to be an interesting Super Eights stage in the West Indies:

Group 1Group 2
India (A1)USA (A2)
Australia (B2)England (B1)
Afghanistan (C1)West Indies (C2)
Bangladesh (D2)South Africa (D1)

The top two teams from each Super Eights group will progress to the semi-finals.

2024 T20 World Cup: Super Eights fixtures

Group 1:

Thursday 20 June:

  • Afghanistan vs India, Barbados (day game).
  • Australia vs Bangladesh, Antigua (night game).

Saturday 22 June:

  • India vs Bangladesh, Antigua (day game).
  • Afghanistan vs Australia, Kingstown (night game).

Monday 24 June:

  • India vs Australia, St Lucia (day game).
  • Afghanistan vs Bangladesh, Kingstown (night game).

Group 2:

Wednesday 19 June:

  • South Africa vs USA, Antigua (day game).
  • West Indies vs England, St Lucia (night game).

Friday 21 June:

  • England vs South Africa, St Lucia (day game).
  • West Indies vs USA, Barbados (night game).

Sunday 23 June:

  • England vs USA, Barbados (day game).
  • West Indies vs South Africa, Antigua (night game).

Semi-Finals schedule

The semi-finals will take place on Wednesday 26 June (night game) and Thursday 27 June (day game) at Tarouba and Providence respectively.

The final will be played on Saturday 29 June at Barbados, which will be a 10:30am game local time.

England, who are the defending champions, have a chance to win their second-straight title after a strong finish to the group stage and Australia’s win over Scotland.

Amazing scenes in Kathmandu and stadium highlights cricket-crazy Nepal

Charbel Coorey
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Amazing scenes in Kathmandu and stadium highlights cricket-crazy Nepal

For most of the contest, Nepal could dare to dream of a huge scalp. They controlled a lot of the match against the highly-fancied South Africa off the back of their spinners, and then set things up nicely with the bat.

With 18 needed off 21 balls with seven wickets in hand chasing 116, a showdown with Bangladesh for a Super Eights spot looked imminent.

However, it was heartbreak for Nepal. Tears were shed as they fell short, with their inexperience telling in the final overs. Boundaries in the final two overs got the equation to two to win off as many balls, but youngster Gulsan Jha was run out by inches attempting to sneak a bye off the last delivery.

Thousands of fans gather in Kathmandu – scenes that highlight how passionate Nepal is for cricket

The match showed how far Nepal have come and the potential they have. We’ve seen Afghanistan rise rapidly over the past decade, and who knows where Nepal could be in the coming years.

The passion for the sport in the country is highlighted by the amazing scenes in Kathmandu, where thousands of fans gathered from the start of the Nepal-South Africa match which began at 5:15am local time.

The Nepal fans at Arnos Vale Ground in Kingstown were also magnificent. One fan travelled 16,287 kilometres to cheer for Nepal in this World Cup. His reactions during the match, showcased on the official ICC page, reflect the passion Nepalese fans have for the game.

“We wanted to give a gift to our fans but it didn’t go our way,” said Nepal captain Rohit Paudel in the post-match press conference. He hopes this is the springboard to more games against higher-ranked teams.

“The way we played today, it showed we belong here. This will give us good confidence for the next match against Bangladesh.”

Unfortunately for Nepal, they can no longer qualify for the Super Eights. But, the future looks bright.

Reactions to Pakistan getting knocked out at the group stage of the T20 World Cup

Charbel Coorey
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Reactions to Pakistan getting knocked out at the group stage of the T20 World Cup

The rain relented for a while in Lauderhill, but Pakistan’s T20 World Cup hopes were still washed away following the abandonment of the USA-Ireland match. The result means the USA qualify to the Super Eights stage with five points; a great moment in their cricketing journey.

Yes, the weather wasn’t kind to Pakistan in the end, but Babar Azam’s team should look inward before blaming any external factors for their elimination. Defeat first up to the USA – a game Pakistan were heavily favoured to win – has proved fatal.

As has the defeat to India, where they were in a glorious position to win.

This campaign has reflected a bit of a trend with Pakistan in recent World Cups. They often start poorly and need to catch up, usually relying on other results to go their way if they are to progress. It was the case in the 2019 ODI World Cup (missed the semi-finals), 2022 T20 World Cup (SA vs ZIM washout and Netherlands beating South Africa opened the door), 2023 ODI World Cup (missed the semi-finals) and now here at the 2024 T20 World Cup.

What this means for the team remains to be seen. Which players will they persist with, and who will they bring in? Those are questions the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) needs to get right with a home Champions Trophy campaign beckoning.

Reactions: Pakistan knocked out from the 2024 T20 World Cup group stage

Group A looked to be one of the more straightforward ones on paper. India and Pakistan stood out like a sore thumb when it came to experience. Ireland, USA and Canada certainly have their strengths, but the two Asian giants were widely expected to qualify.

“At this rate, does Pakistan deserve to make it ahead in the tournament?” tweeted legend Wasim Akram back on June 10. Truth be told, their cricket hasn’t been good enough.

Former Pakistan batsman Ahmad Shahzad minced no words when it came to Pakistan’s campaign.

“The deserving team is through to Super 8 round. If you’re depending on Ireland to defeat someone, you seriously don’t deserve to qualify. Don’t think even “Kudrat Ka Nizam” works for those who are not deserving or ready to improve. All eyes on PCB chairman now!” he tweeted.

Here are some of the reactions from fans, pundits and former players on Pakistan getting knocked out from the World Cup at the group stage.

USA has over 200,000 cricket players in 400 leagues across the country

Charbel Coorey
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USA has over 200,000 cricket players in 400 leagues across the country

Cricket in the United States of America (USA) is growing in popularity. The USA team’s excellent performances in the T20 World Cup have added to the increased awareness of the sport in the country, but the groundwork has already been laid.

According to USA Cricket, America is home to more than 400 leagues with over 200,000 players competing. These leagues range from grassroot school programs to academies.

“Cricket is currently being played by over 200,000 players in the United States,” reads the statement.

“These players participate in competitions in the more than 400 local leagues, tournaments, academies, college and school programs across the United States. There are various formats of the game including: hardball, tapeball, softball, disabled and indoor to name a few.”

Cricket growing in popularity in the USA at grassroot level

The key for further growth is encouraging young people to take up the sport. In an interview with CBS News, Sham Chotoo, a cricket coach in the USA, aims to share the joys of the game after moving to America from Trinidad and Tobago three decades ago.

Chotoo started a cricket progam to encourage children to play. The program became the first elementary school cricket league in the USA.

Now, the program has over 1,000 children playing cricket across 86 teams.

“Back then [30 years ago], it was mainly the immigrant population playing cricket,” Chotoo said. “It was a fun way to get together.”

“And I said, well, why don’t I start a cricket program here?”

13-year-old Jordyn Hinkle-Walker is one of cricket’s advocates, according to Chotoo. “When I first started playing, my mother was like, ‘girl what are you doing?'” said Hinkle-Walker.

She, as as well as other students, love the sport.

“It was crazy,” Chotoo said. “You see they would get so excited, and you see their whole faces would light up.”

USA on the brink of qualifying to the Super Eights stage of the T20 World Cup

The Florida rainfall is likely to see the USA qualify to the Super Eights. It is a remarkable situation given powerhouses India and Pakistan are in their group.

The victory over Pakistan got Americans talking about cricket. And given its growing popularity, one feels it will only become more popular in the coming years.

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