Chennai, February 13 Saiteja Mukkamalla's impressive 79 and a four-wicket haul by former India U-19 star Harmeet Singh powered the United States to a comfortable 93-run victory over the Netherlands in a group league match of the T20 World Cup here on Friday.
This is the USA's first-ever T20I victory over the Netherlands. Mukkamalla's 51-ball innings was the cornerstone of the USA's competitive total of 196 for 6, while all-rounder Shubham Ranjane once again proved his worth with an invaluable 24-ball 48 not out.
Left-arm spinner Harmeet Singh (4/21) didn't take many wicket-taking deliveries, but the Netherlands batsmen were left in disarray as they were bowled out for 103 in 15.5 overs.
Harmeet's figures were the best by a USA bowler in a T20 World Cup match. In fact, two of Harmeet's wickets – opener Max O'Dowd (13) and all-rounder Bas de Leede (23) – were bowled after the batsmen deposited the ball to the fielders.
The other two deliveries were spot on – one flat and skiddy that breached rival captain Scott Edwards' defence, and the other a straighter one that trapped Roelof de Merwe in front.
Another left-arm spinner Nosthush Kenjige got one that kept so low that opener Michael Levitt was forced to play all over it.
The Netherlands were never really in the game on a track that got slower with the passage of time.
Earlier, Mukkamalla provided the impetus with a 51-ball 79 before Ranjane's late surge ensured a competitive 196 for 6 after 20 overs.
Mukkamalla added 55 for the second wicket with captain Monank Patel (36) and another 54 for the fourth wicket with former Mumbai all-rounder Ranjane, who used the long handle to good effect to take the team total close to 200.
Mukkamalla, a former student of the cricket academy run by VVS Laxman in Hyderabad, hit five fours and four sixes. His hitting on the off-side, including maximums over covers, was particularly impressive.
His driving was top notch, while Ranjane punished the short-ball tactic employed by the Netherlands bowlers towards the end.
Former South Africa left-arm spinner Roelof van der Merwe was hit for a straight six by Mukkamalla. In the case of Ranjane, he pulled both Bas de Leede and Logan van Beek.
Ranjane, who had scored a fifty against Pakistan, was in fine touch and when he and Mukkamalla were at the crease together, a 200-plus total looked possible. However, van Beek and de Leede used clever changes of pace on a slowish Chepauk track to pull things back.
De Leede, son of former Netherlands seamer Tim de Leede, was the pick of the bowling attack with figures of 3 for 37.
