- Saurabh Netravalkar took 3-33 and 2-26 against Ireland at this ground in 2021
- Netravalkar claimed 2-18 against India and took the prize wicket of Virat Kohli
- Recommended bet: Saurabh Netravalkar to be Top Wicket Taker - USA

The United States can clinch a spot in the Super Eights if they beat winless Ireland in Friday's T20 World Cup Group A match in Florida.

The co-hosts got off to a storming start in the competition by beating Canada and upsetting Pakistan before a seven-wicket loss to India halted their momentum.

The Irish have endured a torrid time so far as defeats to India and Canada have left them with the poorest net run rate in the section and virtually no chance of progression. 

Team news

The US were forced into a couple of changes for Wednesday’s game against India in New York with skipper Monank Patel left out because of a left shoulder injury.

Stand-in captain Aaron Jones explained at the toss that it was just a niggle and that Monank should be able to return for the next game.

If that is the case, then Shayan Jahangir will drop out again after failing to take his opportunity when out for a golden duck.

Spinner Noshthush Kenjige, who took 3-30 against Pakistan, could also return after the US opted to select paceman Shadley van Schalkwyk instead on the notoriously up-and-down New York track.

As for Ireland, leg-spinner Ben White could be recalled if Ireland choose to strengthen their slow bowling ranks.

If so, Josh Little’s place looks more vulnerable than fellow seamer Craig Young after two ineffectual and expensive performances against India and Canada.

The stats

Ireland and the US have played two completed T20 internationals to date and both were at the ground being used on Friday — Lauderhill in Florida.

The home nation clinched a 26-run win in the opening clash before Ireland hit back a day later to squeeze home by nine runs after defending a small target of 150.

Left-arm bowler Saurabh Netravalkar claimed figures of 5-59 across the two games and was the United States' most threatening bowler again on Wednesday when he took the prize wickets of both Indian openers.

Two US batters are among the top five run scorers in the tournament ahead of Thursday’s games with Jones’ 141 runs second only to Afghanistan’s Ramanullah Gurbaz’s tally of 156, with Andries Gous not far behind with 102 to his name.

Prediction

There is so much more for the co-hosts to play for than Ireland here with a place in the Super Eights and automatic qualification for the next T20 World Cup at stake.

But there is also more pressure on them to perform and the switch of venue back to a ground that Ireland will know well ought to help the Green and Whites recover their shattered confidence too.

Team USA’s soaring belief is unlikely to have been shaken by Wednesday’s loss to the tournament favourites and one player in particular will be coming into this clash feeling 10 feet tall.

Netravalkar produced the opening spell of his life to take the scalps of both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma leaving some to suggest he looked like a left-armed Jimmy Anderson.

The Mumbai-born bowler took five Irish wickets when the teams faced off over two T20 matches at this stadium a couple of years ago and looks great value to finish as his side’s leading wicket-taker again.

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