USA Cricket: George stifles Argentina with 5 for 9 to keep USA undefeated at 2011 ICC Americas T20

openingbat — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 23:06:00 GMT

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By Peter Della Penna in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Official Scorecard I Ball-by-Ball Commentary

Left-arm orthodox spinner Bhim George took 5 for 9 to derail Argentina’s chase of 151 as USA won their third match of the ICC Americas Division One T20 tournament by 66 runs on Wednesday afternoon at the Central Broward Regional Park in Lauderhill, Florida. George picked up Man of the Match honors and now has eight wickets on the week to lead all bowlers at the event. USA moved to 3-0 with the win while Argentina lost their third straight.

“I thought the wicket was a little slower and the ball was keeping low, two paced, so I just wanted to bowl one line and vary the pace also and I get the results,” said George.

USA won the toss for the third day in a row and elected to bat on a brutally hot day. Sushil Nadkarni and Gowkaran Roopnarine put on 38 runs for the first wicket in 5.2 overs before Nadkarni was bowled for 18 to give medium pacer Gary Savage the first of his three wickets. His second came two balls later when USA captain Steve Massiah was given out LBW without scoring for the second day in a row after being struck on the toe by a yorker.

Roopnarine was joined by Aditya Mishra and the pair produced a half-century stand to reestablish control for USA. Roopnarine reached 40 and Mishra top scored with 41 before both men were bowled by medium pacer Alejo Tissera. The 20-year-old disturbed Timroy Allen’s stumps to claim his third, reducing USA to 124 for 5 in the 17th over as Allen walked off for 8.

Quasen Alfred fell in the next over, caught for 11 slogging off-spinner Donald Forrester to Pablo Ryan on the midwicket rope. Orlando Baker was bowled by Ryan’s medium pace for 2 to end the 19th before Akeem Dodson provided a late burst, hitting three boundaries, until he was caught in the deep for 16 on the final ball of the innings off the bowling of Savage as USA finished at 150 for 8.

Usman Shuja set the tone in the field for USA with a stingy opening spell that included the first breakthrough as he trapped Hernan Williams in front of the stumps for 11 to make it 18 for 1 in the 5th over. Things stayed quiet for the next few overs until Bhim George put his stamp on the game.

In George’s second over, he had Ben Precious out LBW for 13 and followed that by bowling Alejandro Ferguson first ball to be on a hat trick. Four balls later he wrapped up the over by bowling opening batsman Pablo Ferguson for 17 to leave Argentina spiraling out of control at 43 for 4 in 11 overs. It was déjà vu to start the 13th as Forrester was bowled for 3 before Tissera was given LBW first ball to complete George’s five-wicket haul while putting him on a hat trick once more.

From there, Savage and Bernardo Irigoyen batted out the rest of the overs to finish not out on 16 and 14 respectively as Argentina finished on 84 for 6 in their 20 overs.

In the morning match, Cayman Islands recorded their first win, defeating Suriname by 7 wickets. Suriname was bowled out for 95 before Zachary McLaughlin led Cayman Islands chase by top scoring with 37 at the top of the order. The target was passed on the last ball of the 19th over. The evening match between Canada and Bermuda was still in progress at the time this article was published.

All teams have an off day on Thursday. USA resumes play on Friday night under the lights against Canada. The match is scheduled for a 5:30 p.m. EST start time with live coverage on DreamCricket.com beginning at 5 p.m.

USA Cricketer : Gowkaran Roopnarine, Alejo Tissera

USA Cricket: George stifles Argentina with 5 for 9 to keep USA undefeated at 2011 ICC Americas T20