Table of Contents

NEW DELHI: Sanjay Krishnamurthi’s explosive unbeaten half-century, backed by a disciplined bowling effort, powered the United States national cricket team to a vital 31-run win over the Namibia national cricket team in a must-win Group C clash on Sunday, keeping their slim Super Eights hopes alive.

With consecutive victories, USA wrapped up the group stage on four points and sit third behind India and Pakistan in Group A. Their qualification hopes remain alive, though they are dependent on other results.

Monank sets the platform, Sanjay explodes

Choosing to bat, captain Monank Patel laid the foundation with a fluent 52 off 30 balls before Sanjay blasted an unbeaten 68 from just 33 deliveries, lifting USA to their highest-ever T20 World Cup total of 199/4. It is also the second-highest total by an Associate side in a men’s T20 World Cup.

In response, Namibia were restricted to 168/6 despite a solid start from Louren Steenkamp (58 off 39 balls; 5x4, 3x6).

Steenkamp provided early fireworks, particularly during a 20-run fifth over when he hammered Ali Khan for two fours and a six.

USA hit back quickly as Shadley van Schalkwyk dismissed Jan Frylinck (19), who chipped one straight back to the bowler.

Namibia kept up the aggression with Steenkamp finding steady support in Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton.

The pair stitched together 45 runs from 31 balls, keeping the chase in control.

Loftie-Eaton impressed with inventive strokes, including reverse sweeps and inside-out shots, as Namibia reached 97 for one at the halfway stage, requiring 103 from the final 10 overs.

Netravalkar and Ranjane trigger collapse

Loftie-Eaton finished the 10th over with a superb reverse sweep off Milind Kumar, but a sharp bowling change by Monank altered the momentum.

He reintroduced Saurabh Netravalkar (1/27), who removed Loftie-Eaton attempting another reverse sweep, only to find Shubham Ranjane at short third man.

Soon after, Steenkamp brought up a 33-ball fifty but fell in the next over as Monank’s decision to introduce Ranjane’s medium pace paid off, with the batter miscuing an off-cutter.

The twin strikes sparked a collapse. Namibia lost two set batters within 13 runs, and captain Gerhard Erasmus (6) also departed cheaply, becoming Van Schalkwyk’s second wicket (2/30).

The seamer now tops the tournament’s wicket tally with 13 scalps.

From there, Namibia never truly recovered and were left chasing an improbable 38 runs off the final over.

Sanjay’s dream knock lights up innings

Earlier, USA had built their imposing total on a solid base.

Monank attacked from the outset, reaching his half-century in just 30 balls.

After a brief middle-order lull, Sanjay took control in the death overs with his unbeaten 33-ball 68, pushing USA close to the 200 mark.

The 22-year-old, who began dreaming of international cricket after watching India’s 2011 World Cup triumph and started his cricketing journey in Bengaluru before relocating to San Francisco during the COVID-19 pandemic, produced a stunning knock featuring six sixes and four fours.

Sanjay and Milind Kumar added an unbeaten 87-run partnership for the fourth wicket to lift the innings.

Sanjay had an early reprieve when he was dropped on 32 after Erasmus attempted a running catch at long-off but lost control while tumbling, and the miss proved costly.

The youngster then shifted gears, bringing up his maiden T20I fifty in style.

He dominated the 17th over against Ruben Trumpelmann, smashing three consecutive sixes, including one off a waist-high no-ball, to reach a 23-ball half-century.

Flying start sets the tone

USA had earlier made a blistering start as Monank and Shayan Jahangir added 68 runs in just 6.5 overs, scoring at nearly 11 runs per over in the powerplay.

Monank was in full flow, striking three sixes, two off JJ Smit, and raced to his fifty in only 27 balls. He capped the powerplay with a six and two fours off Smit in a 19-run over as USA surged to 65 without loss.

Jahangir looked assured too, hitting a six and two fours before Namibia responded through leg-spinner Willem Myburgh on his return.

Myburgh first dismissed Jahangir, deceiving him with a slower delivery that resulted in a top edge to mid-on.

In his following over, he removed Monank as Namibia clawed back briefly, with Erasmus also striking in his first over with clever variations.

However, lapses in the field proved costly as Sanjay’s late onslaught ensured USA finished strongly.

(With PTI Inputs)