India qualify for T20 World Cup Super-Eight after beating USA

NEW YORK (Agencies): The Indian men’s cricket team made it to the Super Eight stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 after beating the USA by seven wickets in their third Group A match at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York on Wednesday. With three wins from three matches, India are on top of Group A with six points. India will take on Canada in their final group match on Saturday. Having won the toss, India opted to bowl first. Apart from Steven Taylor and Nitish Kumar, USA’s batting lineup struggled against the Indian bowling attack led by Arshdeep Singh, who finished with figures of 4-9. The hosts were restricted to 110-8 in 20 overs. Chasing a low total, India had a rocky start to the powerplay and lost both star batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli inside the first three overs. However, a 72-run partnership from Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dube helped India reach the finish line with seven wickets in hand.

The Indian bowlers announced their intent early on with Arshdeep dismissing Shayan Jahangir on the very first ball of the match. Andries Gous was the next to return to the pavilion, losing his wicket in the last ball of the first over. Steven Taylor, scoring 24 off 30, and Nitish Kumar, who made 27 in 23 deliveries, helped the USA recover and stood their ground against the Indian bowling. However, Taylor was cleaned up by Axar Patel while Arshdeep dismissed Nitish thanks to a fine catch from Mohammed Siraj. Arshdeep also managed to get the better of Harmeet Singh, completing a four-wicket haul. Corey Anderson lost his wicket to Hardik Pandya as the USA scraped their way to a score of 110/8. The Indian run-chase began with Virat Kohli getting out to Saurabh Netravalkar on a duck. Netravalkar returned to send back Indian captain Rohit Sharma in his next over, leaving India at 10/2 after 2.2 overs. Rishabh Pant steadied the ship with Suryakumar Yadav but the southpaw was dismissed after scoring 18 off 20. However, Shivam Dube joined Suryakumar in the middle and forged a 72-run partnership to help India reach the target in 18.2 overs. Suryakumar remained not out on 50 off 49 while Dube scored 31 in 35 balls. The Indian men’s cricket team will play Canada in its final Group A match at Central Broward Park in Lauderhill, Florida on Saturday.

Brief scores:

USA 110-8 in 20 overs (Nitish Kumar 27, Steven Taylor 24; Arshdeep Singh 4-9) lost to India 111-3 in 18.2 overs (Suryakumar Yadav 50 not out, Shivam Dube 31 not out; Saurabh Netravalkar 2-18) by 7 wickets.