USA captain Aaron Jones rues lack of discipline in bowling after their narrow defeat against South Africa in the Super Eight of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 on Wednesday (June 19) in North Sound. USA lost to South Africa by 18 runs. However, Jones adds that if they are disciplined, they can beat any team in the world.

Bowling first, USA restricted South Africa to less than 200 from 126 for 1 in the 13th over on a pitch that was favorable to batting. South Africa scored 194 runs for 4 wickets in 20 overs. The total was set up by Quinton de Kock's maiden half-century of the tournament, a fifth-wicket partnership of 53 between Heinrich Klaasen and Tristan Stubbs, Aiden Markram’s 46-run innings. Quinton de Kock scored 74 runs off 40 balls with 7 fours and 5 sixes.

In the chase, Steven Taylor gave USA a strong start, and then Andries Gous’ 80-run innings kept USA in the contest till the end. But a great spell from Kagiso Rabada specially just 2 runs in 19^th over when USA needed 28 runs from 2 overs gave South Africa the win. Rabada took 3 wickets for just 18 runs in 4 overs.

"Hard to take a defeat after coming so close. But we did lack discipline in the bowling at times. Once we play good cricket we can beat any team in the world. But we need to be a lot more disciplined,” Jones said.

USA will face West Indies in their next match of the Super Eight on June 22.