US qualify for knockout stages of T20 World Cup as Ireland game washed out

Co-hosts the United States advanced to the knockout stages of the T20 World Cup at the expense of Pakistan on Friday without bowling a ball after torrential rain cancelled their final group match against Ireland in Lauderdale, Florida.

The United States, competing in their first T20 World Cup, lit up the tournament by winning a dramatic match against Pakistan in a super over, and their inclusion in the Super Eights is a welcome boost for the game in the region, with cricket set to return to the Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028.

South Africa won a dramatic last-ball victory over Nepal in Kingstown when Quinton de Kock and Heinrich Klaasen combined to run out Gulsan Jha off the final ball, winning by a run and maintaining their unbeaten record.

Nepal, responding to South Africa's 115 for seven, required eight runs from the final over. Jha swiped a four-over cover, and with two runs needed from the final ball and one for a super over, he went for a single.

De Kock's throw bounced off the batsman, and Klaasen threw down the stumps at the bowler's end.

New Zealand, already eliminated after defeats to Afghanistan and the West Indies, thrashed Uganda by nine wickets at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad, taking advantage of conditions more akin to Dunedin's old Carisbrook rugby and cricket ground than a Caribbean venue.

The New Zealand bowlers got the ball to swerve, cut, and spin throughout, dismissing Uganda for 40, one more than they scored against the West Indies in Georgetown, the joint lowest score at a T20 World Cup.

New Zealand achieved their target in slightly more than 5 overs for the loss of one wicket, but it was little consolation for a disappointing tournament, and they will now fly home regardless of the outcome of their final group match against Papua New Guinea on Monday.

SportsLigue