Just last week, the U.S. shocked the sports world when USA Cricket — yes, there is a U.S. cricket team — upset Pakistan at the men’s ICC T20 World Cup. And as stunning as that win over Pakistan was, the U.S. had a chance to take it a step further against top-ranked India in the group stage on Wednesday.
Surprisingly enough, the U.S. gave India a scare. But one call, in particular, effectively ended Team USA’s upset hopes.
ICC has pace of play rules in place at the World Cup, which require teams to not exceed 60 seconds between overs (think at-bats in baseball terms). With the U.S. teetering to a winning pace with little margin for error (India needed 35 runs on 30 remaining balls), the umpire alerted Team USA captain Aaron Jones that he was issuing a five-run penalty for exceeding the 60-second limit on three occasions.
ICC Stop Clock rule – India has been given 5 run penalty runs. pic.twitter.com/TqHStQNf1C
— Ragav 𝕏 (@ragav_x) June 12, 2024
A landmark moment! 😳
As #TeamIndia advanced through to the Super 8, USA were fined 5 penalty runs after the 15th over as the co-hosts took more than a minute between overs three times!
WATCH 🇮🇳 NEXT ➡️ #INDvCAN | SAT, JUN 15, 6 PM | #T20WorldCupOnStar pic.twitter.com/uEax3CIHwN
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) June 12, 2024
That took India’s run tally to 81 through 15 overs (out of 20). So now, India only needed 30 runs to hit the target score of 111 on 30 remaining balls. With the U.S. already using its strongest bowlers in the opening 10 overs, India was easily going to hit 111. Without the penalty, it wouldn’t have been as certain — though India still would have been favored to win.
So, yeah, those five runs were huge as India won the match in the 19th over 111-110 by seven wickets.
Still, it was a great effort from a U.S. squad that can advance to the knockout stage with a win over last-place Ireland.
Fans, though, were quick to point to the five-run penalty as a turning point in the match.
This was how Twitter/X reacted
Really feel for the USA there. The ridiculous 5 run penalty changed the ask and the dynamic. Before that a dropped catch ultimately cost them the game. Think they came really close to turning over India there. Whose fans were as graceless as you would expect
— foolsrushin (@NPage10) June 12, 2024
Great game #USAvIndia. US made it interesting with early wickets, but a big drop, 5-run penalty were too much to overcome
— Sunny Singh (@sunnysingh93) June 12, 2024
As a long-time Cricket fan of the last several days, India being gifted 5 penalty runs near the end of their "win" over Team USA is absolutely fraudulent, because I don't like the outcome. pic.twitter.com/g54Vxcvu0a
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) June 12, 2024
Five Run Penalty?!? In this economy?!
— Baltimorons (@bmorons) June 12, 2024
The 5 run penalty is going to cost USA, this new rule of 60 second to choose a new bowler over an over shift is BS if you ask me
— August Leone Radjoe (oss/acc) (@augustradjoe) June 12, 2024
Low scoring but India pulls it out in the end. A lot closer than I figured it’d be. 5 run penalty was huge 🤦♂️ https://t.co/bxcT2DLJyK
— Zach (@zoidbergererer) June 12, 2024
USA cricket comes up short despite an iconic moment but what a match. They should feel very proud to go toe to toe with India like that. A few individual errors is what separated the teams.
— Dom (@KnowerOfBans) June 12, 2024
Well played team USA! Mistakes were made: catches, penalty runs, and stops. But this team gave India a game and showed that associate nations can compete. Proud to say I'm a USA cricket fan! #USAvsIndia
— Aaman Patel (@APSportsNews_) June 12, 2024
They needed a new rule penalty to win. I'm proud of my compatriots. 🇺🇲🦅🇺🇲🦅🇺🇲
— Myles 🇺🇲 (@MylesFromNC) June 12, 2024
The U.S. will face Ireland on Friday.
