The co-hosts USA reached the second group stage and eliminated Pakistan on an historic if damp day in Florida
The United States’ T20 World Cup group match against Ireland in Lauderhill, Florida was washed out on Friday, ensuring the co-hosts’ progress to the Super Eight knockout stage at the expense of former champions Pakistan.
Unrelenting rain, which had put South Florida at risk of life-threatening flooding, resulted in a wet outfield when the teams arrived. Although the rain stopped in the morning, umpires called off the game when it returned after several inspections.
India top the group with six points while the USA are second with five points, which means third-placed Pakistan (two points) cannot finish in the top two even if they beat Ireland on Sunday in their final group game.
Only the top two teams from the four groups advance to the Super Eight. The USA defeated Canada in the tournament opener before stunning Pakistan in a match that went to a Super Over. Reuters
Despite Chuck’s admirable attempt to change the playing conditions at a moment’s notice, there will be no cricket in Lauderhill today. Every thunderstorm has a silver living, though, in this case for the competition co-hosts. This no-result means the USA have reached the Super 8 stage in their first World Cup, eliminating Pakistan, Ireland and Canada in the process. They are also guaranteed a place at the next T20 World Cup in 2026.
It’s a shame they qualified via a washout but nobody should begrudge them their place. They deserved to beat Canada and Pakistan, and they gave India a scare as well. Now they will face West Indies, South Africa and either England or Scotland.
This is their schedule, weather jolly well permitting.
Wed 19 June South Africa (North Sound, Antigua)
Sat 22 June West Indies (Bridgetown, Barbados)
Sun 23 June Scotland or England (Bridgetown, Barbados)
Thanks for your kind company on an historic if strange day. Now somebody fly Chuck out to the Caribbean for goodness sake.
HISTORY IN THE MAKING!!! 🇺🇸🔥🙌
For the first time ever, #TeamUSA have qualified for the Super 8 stage of the @ICC @T20WorldCup! 🤩✨
Congratulations, #TeamUSA! 🙌❤️ pic.twitter.com/tkquQhAVap
It’s raining now. It’s over.
This is serious rain now. Like the heavens have opened……. pic.twitter.com/iTFndUs1pj
Lightning warning in Lauderhill!
Adam Roberts wasn’t wrong. Apparently everyone has scarpered off the field due to a lightning warning, so the match will be officially abandoned any second now.
The covers are back on in Lauderhill 😬🌧️ pic.twitter.com/LahzfyWCnq
A five-over game would need to begin by 2.16pm local/7.16pm BST, so there may yet be time for another inspection!
Some people are on the outfield – two, to be precise, the umpires Rod Tucker and Sharfuddoula. The USA may be about to make cricket history.
“I am shocked that play can even be contemplated,” says Adam Roberts. “The state governor has declared a state of emergency for the counties of Broward … and mayors of Miami-Dade, Miami and Fort Lauderdale also declared a state of emergency. Because of the rain.”
“To be honest, I’m not sure Chuck is actually all that interested in sport. No doubt he loves America, though. Thank God we don’t get any of that nonsense here.”
Friendly, jaunty patriotism gets our approval, surely? (I may delete this post if Chuck has started chinning Ireland fans for no reason.)
“I get the feeling Chuck plays rugby,” says James Newman. “Lord knows he has a rugger’s mindset.”
I’m slightly worried about how much damage he could do at the all-inclusive bar before the umpires call this off.
Another pitch inspection at 1.15pm local/6.15pm BST
The umpires have decided to look again in about 35 minutes. I suspect deep down they know it’s futile, but the match is far too important for them to toss it off and head down the pub.
The umpires are stamping on the outfield, trying to assess how wet it is and whether there’s any realistic chance of play. Their body language does not bode well for Pakistan and Ireland.
“Freshen up?” sniffs Damian Clarke. “There’d be that many heart attacks, the waiting list for membership would advance by three years.”
Three years? Let’s not get carried away now.
This guy would freshen up the Long Room at Lord’s
Chuck is on fire shouting out to Andries Gous and Shadley Van Schalkwyk standing near the boundary during the delay for USA v Ireland. "I cheer for dingers. Bring that shit home baby!" https://t.co/aNw68VT1H2 pic.twitter.com/3M4TgjwYkC
This is a great initiative. Spread the word!
Calling undiscovered and new talent! If you’re 18-24yrs and want an amazing opportunity to get a foot in the door, or onto the next rung of the ladder, have a go at entering this competition 👉🏼 https://t.co/JlbOmNHaV6 @HomeOfCricket https://t.co/5WiYkjOXvt
“The pitch might have been a little dodgy (though I prefer to call it ‘entertaining’),” says Richard Peel, “but if they had stayed in Nassau County we would be enjoying days and days of glorious sunny weather with fluffy clouds to watch cricket. How long would it take to knock that stand back up?”
Can you get it done by 2.16pm local/7.16pm BST?
The cut-off point for a five-over game is 2.16pm local/7.16pm BST.
Something to pass the time
Forty years ago today, England began their five-Test series against the all-conquering West Indies. Could they pull of a stunning win? No.
It’s not over yet! There will be another inspection at 12.30pm local/5.30pm BST.
“This USA team is the cricket equivalent of Cameroon at Italia 90 and Croatia in 1998,” writes Krishnamoorthy V. “Beating Pakistan and almost beating India (that blasted five penalty runs tilted the momentum) is no mean task. I want then to progress and beat India in the semis.”
If they are the equivalent of Cameroon, they will batter England in the Super 8s and somehow lose on a Super Over.
The word on the street is that an abandonment is imminent; the outfield is just too wet after the torrential rain of the last few days. Anyone else getting happy flashbacks?
“From a US perspective, I think I’d either want to play the whole game or none of it,” writes Beau Dure. “An abbreviated game would raise the likelihood of a fluke result like Ireland beating the USA, and I can’t believe I just wrote that sentence about a sport other than basketball, volleyball or water polo.”
Welcome to cricket, the game that makes you feel guilty even when you win. (Not sure Ireland winning would be a fluke, mind you. They beat the eventual winners England at the last T20 World Cup, and that was no fluke.)
No news is good or bad news, depending which team you support.
Been dry all morning in Lauderhill. The sun is out. But no cricket. Just a whole lot of standing around. USA won't mind. Ireland not so much. pic.twitter.com/un07WcjUpF
The other big benefit of reaching the Super 8s is that it guarantees qualification for the next T20 World Cup in a couple of weeks’ time in 2026.
“Hi from DC,” writes Kyle Hill. “Because it’s often more interesting than doing work in the middle of the US day, I’ve been dispassionately reading the Guardian’s OBO coverage of this obscure, strange foreign sport since the 2005 Ashes. But now that I actually have some investment in the results, I’m going to need to know: IS it cowardly to pray for rain?”
Is it even more cowardly to say it depends?
Alternative live action (including a hole in one!)
While nothing is happening, I’m going to take a quick break to do a thousand squat thrusts. Be back in a bit.
Meanwhile, in Group B…
The outfield is still very wet, so there will be another inspection at 11.30am local/4.30pm BST. If I had to bet the farm I’d say the match will be washed out because of further rain, but I’m thousands of miles away so I’m not sure what the point of this sentence is.
“Took the day off work, put on my US Soccer jersey (closest I’ve got, as it’s basically impossible to figure out which websites sell legit USA cricket jerseys), and now… rain,” laments Zach from Texas. “Ready for a nervy little 10-over shootout.”
That US kit is one of the better ones at this tournament. Don’t tell me Fanatics have turned their nose up at it?
If the US qualify it will be historic, but I’m not sure it’ll be that much of a shock. Ultimately it comes down to one result, their win over Pakistan, which was unlikely but not unforeseeable. As their pre-tournament results showed, they’re a proper team now.
Even a semi-final place isn’t completely beyond the realms. If the USA qualify their Super 8 group will include West Indies, South Africa and either Scotland or England. I won’t be putting the farm on it, but you can just about envisage a scenario whereby they win two of those games.
The umpires will inspect at 10.30am local, 3.30pm BST. If it stays dry – iffity iffity if – I’m sure we’ll get a game of some description, even if it’s a 10-over thrash.
Big guns 🔫are out looking promising.#usavsireland pic.twitter.com/ixpG3CEXx9
The big picture
If the USA win or the match is rained off, they qualify for the Super 8s
If Ireland win, it gets complicated. The USA would have four points, having played all their games, while Ireland, Pakistan and Canada would all be on two points with one match to play: Ireland v Pakistan and India v Canada. In that scenario, either net run-rate or the weather would decide who qualifies along with India.
A reminder how Group A looks 👀 pic.twitter.com/b0lvhgjebS
The good news is that it’s dry in Lauderhill, with unconfirmed reports of an orange thing in the sky, so there is still hope of a game at some stage. But for now the outfield is nowhere near playable so the toss won’t take place at 11am local/3pm BST.
So you're saying there's a chance….#T20WorldCup #IREvUSA pic.twitter.com/7b6gSlFuau
And now it’s time for the weather report, brought to you by one of the greatest bowlers in cricket history
Clear skies in Port Lauderdale but outfield is quite wet . Let's hope for the best . #t20cwc2024 pic.twitter.com/R76MnqlYgG
Hello and welcome to the Guardian’s groundbreaking live blog of the Florida weather. If the USA’s match with Ireland is washed out, the likeliest scenario after the biblical weather of the last few days, they will qualify for the Super 8s on their T20 World Cup debut.
It’s an extraordinary prospect, made possible by their rousing victory over Pakistan eight days ago. That result has shaped Group A and given the USA a shot at glory, albeit potentially without getting on the field. After the Miracle on Ice, it’s time for the Miracle at Sea.
If the players do get on, Ireland need to win to keep both their and Pakistan’s qualification hopes alive. But the prospects don’t look great.
The scheduled start time is 3.30pm BST, 10.30am local. It could be a long day – and an historic one.
