- Nicolas Pooran is the tournament’s leading run-scorer with 200 runs in five games
- The United States have won two of their five matches to date
- Recommended bet: Nicolas Pooran to score a half-century

After lost their perfect record in their opening game of the Super 8s, West Indies need a response against the United States on Saturday.

The two co-hosts will do battle at the Kensington Oval knowing a win is vital, having both lost their opening Group 2 matches.

The Windies were beaten by a rejuvenated England, while the US fell narrowly short against South Africa, beaten by just 18 runs.

On a pitch they are familiar with, Rovman Powell’s men look to have the strike power in their batting line-up to get back to winning ways.

Team news

Coach Daren Sammy insists the Windies spirit “will not be dampened” by the defeat to England and says the belief still remains that they can win the tournament.

Roston Chase and Romario Shepherd came back into the side against Jos Buttler’s men, in place of Shai Hope and Obed McCoy.

McCoy, who took 3-14 against Afghanistan in the previous game, was unlucky to miss out and may be handed a recall.

Sammy says the selection group will meet on Friday to discuss how best to “improve the team based on conditions”.

The US needed just 28 off 12 balls to beat South Africa but eventually fell 18 runs short and could be tempted to make changes for Saturday’s clash.

America made one change against the Proteas, with spinner Nosthush Kenjige replacing all-rounder Shadley van Schalkwyk.

The stats

West Indies have the top run-scorer in the tournament, with Nicolas Pooran averaging 40.00 in his five innings to date.

Windies bowlers Akeal Hosein and Alzarri Joseph have both claimed nine wickets in the tournament.

United States have lost their last two games having beaten Canada and Pakistan in their opening two group matches.

Andries Gous is the USA’s leading run-scorer with 182, but no US bowler features in the top-25 wicket-takers in the tournament.

Prediction

Home advantage should play a big part in this encounter and West Indies will be desperate to give their fans the victory they crave.

The batting line-up is where the Windies can punish the US, with coach Sammy seeing his men score over 160 runs in three of their five innings to date.

In fact, the 2012 and 2016 champions have averaged 171.4 per innings and smashed 218 in their last group game — when they thumped Afghanistan by 104 runs.

The Bridgetown strip has looked like a batting wicket so far, with Australia and England scoring 366 runs between them when they met at the Kensington Oval.

Pooran, who has been batting at three, has 12 T20 half-centuries to his name with one of those coming in the win over Afghanistan.

Back Nicholas Pooran to score a half-century at 23/10 with LiveScore Bet.