Chennai, February 15 – A brilliant unbeaten innings of 68 by Sanjay Krishnamurthi, coupled with disciplined bowling, helped USA defeat Namibia by 31 runs in a crucial Group C match here on Sunday, keeping their slim hopes of reaching the Super Eights alive.
With back-to-back victories, USA finished the group stage with four points, placing them in third position behind India and Pakistan, and they remain in contention for a spot in the next round from Group A, although their chances depend on the results of other matches.
USA batted first, with captain Monank Patel setting the tone with a fluent 52 off 30 balls before Krishnamurthi smashed an unbeaten 68 off 33 balls, taking USA's total to 199/4, also the second-highest score by an Associate team in the men's T20 World Cup.
In reply, Namibia were restricted to 168/6 despite a strong start by Louren Steenkamp (58 off 39 balls, with 5 fours and 3 sixes).
Steenkamp, the Namibian opener, provided early fireworks, especially in the fifth over when he smashed Ali Khan for two fours and a six.
However, USA struck back immediately as Shadley van Schalkwyk dismissed Jan Frylinck (19), who miscued a shot straight back to the bowler.
Namibia continued their aggressive approach with support from Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton.
The pair added 45 runs off 31 balls, keeping the required run rate under control.
Loftie-Eaton impressed with innovative strokes, including reverse sweeps and inside-out shots, helping Namibia reach 97/1 at the halfway mark, needing 103 from the last 10 overs.
Loftie-Eaton ended the 10th over in style with a superb reverse sweep off Milind Kumar, but a smart bowling change by Monank turned the game.
He brought back Saurabh Netravalkar (1/27), who dismissed Loftie-Eaton as the batter attempted another reverse sweep but Shubham Ranjane caught him at short third man.
Soon after, Steenkamp reached his fifty off 33 balls but was dismissed in the next over with a clever move by Monank, introducing Ranjane's medium pace, which paid off as Steenkamp miscued an off-cutter.
This double blow triggered a collapse. Namibia lost two key batters within 13 runs, and captain Gerhard Erasmus (6) also fell cheaply, becoming Van Schalkwyk's second victim (2/30).
The seamer now leads the tournament's wicket chart with 13 wickets.
From there, Namibia never recovered and were left needing an unrealistic 38 runs from the final over.
Earlier, USA had built their total on a strong foundation.
Monank attacked from the outset, reaching his fifty in just 30 balls.
After a brief middle-order slowdown, Sanjay took over in the death overs, scoring 68 off 33 balls to help USA reach close to the 200-mark.
The 22-year-old Sanjay, who began dreaming of international cricket after watching India's 2011 World Cup triumph and began his cricketing journey in Bengaluru before moving to San Francisco during the COVID-19 pandemic, played a breathtaking knock studded with six sixes and four fours.
Sanjay, along with Milind Kumar, stitched an unbeaten 87-run stand for the fourth wicket, helping USA reach their highest ever total in the T20 World Cup.
Sanjay had some luck early on as he was dropped on 32 when Namibia captain Erasmus attempted a fine running catch at long-off, but lost control of the ball while rolling over, and the reprieve proved costly.
The youngster then switched to top gear, bringing up his maiden T20I fifty in style.
He took charge in the 17th over against Ruben Trumpelmann, smashing three sixes in a row, including one off a no-ball, to reach a half-century in 23 balls.
Earlier, USA had a flying start with Monank and Shayan Jahangir adding 68 runs in just 6.5 overs. The pair went at nearly 11 runs per over in the powerplay.
Monank was at his attacking best, hammering three sixes, two of them off JJ Smit, and reached his fifty in just 27 balls. He ended the powerplay with a flourish, hitting Smit for a six and two fours in a 19-run over as USA cruised to 65 without loss.
Jahangir also looked in good touch, striking a six and two fours before Namibia hit back through leg-spinner Willem Myburgh who made a comeback.
Myburgh dismissed Jahangir first, deceiving him with a slower delivery that resulted in a top edge to mid-on.
In his next over, he dismissed the captain as Namibia clawed back briefly, with Erasmus striking in his first over with his clever variations.
But they struggled in the field and paid the price as Sanjay finished strongly.
