T20 World Cup 2024: USA vs Ireland Best Bets

The USA can secure their spot in the Super 8s with a win or a no-result in their final Group A match against the winless Ireland on Friday. With rain in the forecast for Lauderhill, the latter outcome is a distinct possibility. Either way, a top-two finish is within reach for the co-hosts. Let’s look at the best bets to take for this game.

Venue: Central Broward Regional Park Stadium Turf Ground

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Despite Monank Patel’s squad’s advances, their stellar performances have caught global attention. Victories over Canada and Pakistan, and a near-upset against India where they had the tournament favourites struggling at 10/2 and 39/3 chasing 111, showcase their prowess on the challenging New York pitch. The return of captain Monank Patel, who missed the India game with a shoulder issue, will be crucial.

Aaron Jones, stepping in as captain against India, was dismissed cheaply for 11 and saw his team penalised five runs for slow over rates. Leading the tournament in sixes, Jones will be key to challenging the Irish bowlers. Saurabh Netravalkar, with impressive figures of 2/18 against both Pakistan and India, will aim to replicate his success, particularly given USA’s need for more breakthroughs, having taken just three wickets per game.

In their previous T20Is, both played in Lauderhill, USA and Ireland each secured a win. Their last ODI meeting saw Ireland victorious, led by current T20I captain Paul Stirling’s 58 runs. Ireland, needing wins over USA and Pakistan to stay in contention, must see a significant performance from their top order and opening bowler Josh Little, who has yet to take a wicket in this tournament.

It will be intriguing to see how the USA bowlers adapt away from the bowler-friendly pitches of New York, especially since they conceded over 190 runs against Canada in Texas. They have displayed flashes of brilliance despite the challenges. Ireland, on the other hand, will be disappointed with their performance so far, even though it’s still early in the competition. Although rain might be a major factor, betting on the USA to pull off another upset could be worthwhile if they get a chance to play. Back the hosts to win this encounter at 2.30.

Players to Watch: With four wickets to his name, Saurabh Netravalkar is USA’s leading wicket-taker in this tournament, and he has a fine T20I record in Lauderhill where he has a strike rate of 9.4 after picking up five wickets in his two games at the venue, both against Ireland! 

Another player who excelled during that series is Lorcan Tucker who hit 57* and 84 across those H2Hs in 2021. The Irish keeper-batter will be delighted to escape the batting nemesis in New York, where he made two scores of ten, which was in stark contrast to his T20 form in May when he made 51 and 73 against Pakistan before hitting 40 versus the Netherlands and 55 against Scotland. 

Key Stats

The last two T20Is in Lauderhill have been won by the team chasing, but 11 of the other 13 completed T20Is here were won by the side batting first.

Josh Little has conceded at east 9.25rpo in both matches in this T20WC, on the bowler-friendly surface in New York, after doing so only once across his previous 16 T20Is.

Ireland skipper Paul Stirling has made 2x single-figure scorers in this tournament and has not hit a T20I half-century in any of his last 18 innings.

Ali Khan has taken at least one wicket in all five of his T20I appearances in 2024.

Barry McCarthy took his T20I career-best figures of 4/30 against the USA in Lauderhill in 2021.

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