BRIDGETOWN, Barbados — Fast bowler Chris Jordan took a hat-trick and the U.S. cricket team lost five wickets in six balls as England booked a place in the semifinals of the Twenty20 World Cup on Sunday.
Defending champions England beat the United States by 10 wickets with 62 balls remaining in the final match of the Super Eights.
Jordan, who replaced pace bowler Mark Wood, took four wickets in five balls in the final over to crush the United States by 115 runs in 18.5 overs and become the first English player to take a hat-trick in a T20 international match. He finished with figures of 4-10 in 2.5 overs.
Captain Jos Buttler then smashed left-arm spinner Harmeet Singh for 83 not out off 38 balls, including five sixes, in the first over to help England extend their lead to 117-0 after 9.4 overs.
England also beat the West Indies to finish with two big wins in the Super Eights and a healthy net run-rate of 1.992. After their big win over the United States, South Africa, unbeaten in six matches but with a net run-rate of 0.625, will need to avoid a loss to co-hosts West Indies in their other match on Sunday to join England in the semi-finals.
The United States’ World Cup debut was a dream come true, with a historic win over powerhouse Pakistan early in the tournament, but it ended with three straight losses in the Super Eights.
Jordan is only the second bowler after Pat Cummins to take a hat-trick in this World Cup. The Australian fast bowler picked up consecutive hat-tricks against Bangladesh and Afghanistan.
