Bridgetown [Barbados], after the 10-wicket win over USA in their ICC T20 World Cup Super Eights clash and a hat-trick to win the match, England pacer Chris Jordan expressed how special it was for him to do it in Barbados, his birthplace which he also represented in cricket at one point in his career.
Jordan's four-wicket haul, including England's first T20I hat-trick and captain Jos Buttler's massacre with the bat, were the highlights as the defending champions stormed into the semi-finals with a 10-wicket win over the United States in Barbados.
Speaking after the match in the post-match press conference, Jordan said of his hat-trick: "Yeah, I think I started by focusing on the team. Obviously, the hat-trick is definitely special. I'll move on. That's in a second, but I thought the team's performance was really solid today. The way we set the tone on the power play. We knew they were going to attack hard, they played some good shots, but then the way Liam (Livingstone) and Rash. “(Adil Rashid) controlled things for us in the middle, he just set things up really well for us at the back and we were able to reap the rewards.”
"But to get that hat-trick, obviously in a well-documented place where I was born, a place where I played a lot of cricket, in front of my family, my friends, the atmosphere, listening to the music, everything, a nice Yes, it was a special day "he added.
Regarding qualifying that day in his international career, Jordan said that it is one of his best days in the England shirt, as he was able to achieve a hat-trick in front of his family in a must-win match that helped the team to qualify. for the semifinals.
Speaking of reaching the semi-finals, Jordan said there were some bumps in the road on his way to the semi-finals, but they were "good bumps" as they narrowed the team's focus and made his direction clear.
"I think you can see it in the way the guys are playing now. I think having gone through that (difficulties) in the last World Cup that we won as well (in 2022). I think it's keeping us going. It was very useful because there wasn't too much panic when I think it was the Ireland game and they ended up beating Duckworth Lewis and then we had to be in a position where we had to win every game after that," he said.
"But I think the calm inside the locker room, the locker room has a lot of experience now, both in the 15 players and off the field. So we've had some really good talks. And I think the scenarios in which we found ourselves, where we had to increasing our running speed and things like that, and trying to beat people and really dominate the games, it really gave us a very clear direction. I think it's showing in the way we're playing now," Jordan concluded.
But the pacer said England must be careful in their upcoming matches and go through the process again, do their homework and plan well.
Coming into the match, England won the toss and put the United States to bat first. Nitish Kumar (30 off 24 balls, with a four and two sixes), Corey Anderson (29 off 28 balls, with a six) and Harmeet Singh (21 off 17 balls, with two fours and a six) played crucial knocks, but England bowled the co-hosts for 115 runs in 18.5 overs.
Jordan (4/10) was the pick of the England bowlers. Adil Rashid (2/13) and Sam Curran (2/23) also played well for England.
England chased down the target in just 9.4 overs, with captain Buttler (83* off 38 balls, with six fours and seven sixes) and Phil Salt (25* off 21 balls, with two fours) unleashing carnage.
Jordan managed to take a hat-trick, taking four wickets in his third over.
Rashid took home the 'Man of the Match' award.
Jordan's four-wicket haul, including England's first T20I hat-trick and captain Jos Buttler's massacre with the bat, were the highlights as the defending champions stormed into the semi-finals with a 10-wicket win over the United States in Barbados.
Speaking after the match in the post-match press conference, Jordan said of his hat-trick: "Yeah, I think I started by focusing on the team. Obviously, the hat-trick is definitely special. I'll move on. That's in a second, but I thought the team's performance was really solid today. The way we set the tone on the power play. We knew they were going to attack hard, they played some good shots, but then the way Liam (Livingstone) and Rash. “(Adil Rashid) controlled things for us in the middle, he just set things up really well for us at the back and we were able to reap the rewards.”
"But to get that hat-trick, obviously in a well-documented place where I was born, a place where I played a lot of cricket, in front of my family, my friends, the atmosphere, listening to the music, everything, a nice Yes, it was a special day "he added.
Regarding qualifying that day in his international career, Jordan said that it is one of his best days in the England shirt, as he was able to achieve a hat-trick in front of his family in a must-win match that helped the team to qualify. for the semifinals.
Speaking of reaching the semi-finals, Jordan said there were some bumps in the road on his way to the semi-finals, but they were "good bumps" as they narrowed the team's focus and made his direction clear.
"I think you can see it in the way the guys are playing now. I think having gone through that (difficulties) in the last World Cup that we won as well (in 2022). I think it's keeping us going. It was very useful because there wasn't too much panic when I think it was the Ireland game and they ended up beating Duckworth Lewis and then we had to be in a position where we had to win every game after that," he said.
"But I think the calm inside the locker room, the locker room has a lot of experience now, both in the 15 players and off the field. So we've had some really good talks. And I think the scenarios in which we found ourselves, where we had to increasing our running speed and things like that, and trying to beat people and really dominate the games, it really gave us a very clear direction. I think it's showing in the way we're playing now," Jordan concluded.
But the pacer said England must be careful in their upcoming matches and go through the process again, do their homework and plan well.
Coming into the match, England won the toss and put the United States to bat first. Nitish Kumar (30 off 24 balls, with a four and two sixes), Corey Anderson (29 off 28 balls, with a six) and Harmeet Singh (21 off 17 balls, with two fours and a six) played crucial knocks, but England bowled the co-hosts for 115 runs in 18.5 overs.
Jordan (4/10) was the pick of the England bowlers. Adil Rashid (2/13) and Sam Curran (2/23) also played well for England.
England chased down the target in just 9.4 overs, with captain Buttler (83* off 38 balls, with six fours and seven sixes) and Phil Salt (25* off 21 balls, with two fours) unleashing carnage.
Jordan managed to take a hat-trick, taking four wickets in his third over.
Rashid took home the 'Man of the Match' award.
