Chennai: Sanjay Krishnamurthi’s explosive unbeaten half-century followed by a disciplined bowling show powered USA to a crucial 31-run win over Namibia, in a must-win Group C clash here on Sunday, keeping their slim Super Eights hopes alive.
With back-to-back victories, USA finished the group stage on four points and are on third place behind India and Pakistan as they remain in contention for a place in the next round from Group A, though they will depend on other results.
Opting to bat, skipper Monank Patel set the tone with a fluent 30-ball 52 before Krishnamurthi hammered an unbeaten 68 off 33 balls to lift USA to their highest-ever T20 World Cup total of 199/4, also the second-highest total by an Associate team at the men’s T20 World Cup.
In reply, Namibia were restricted to 168/6 despite a strong start given by Louren Steenkamp (58 off 39 balls; 5×4, 3×6).
The Namibian opener Steenkamp provided early fireworks, especially in a 20-run fifth over when he smashed Ali Khan for two fours and a six.
But USA struck back immediately as Shadley van Schalkwyk dismissed Jan Frylinck (19), who miscued one straight back to the bowler.
Namibia maintained their attacking approach with Steenkamp finding solid support in Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton.
The duo added 45 runs off 31 balls, keeping the required rate under control.
Loftie-Eaton impressed with innovative strokes, including reverse sweeps and inside-out shots, as Namibia reached 97 for one 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 from Monank turned the game.
He brought back Saurabh Netravalkar (1/27), who dismissed Loftie-Eaton as the batter attempted another reverse sweep but found Shubham Ranjane at short third man.
Soon after, Steenkamp brought up a 33-ball fifty but fell in the next over with another clever move by Monank introducing Ranjane’s medium pace as it paid off as Steenkamp miscued an off-cutter.
The double blow triggered a collapse. Namibia lost two set batters within 13 runs, and skipper Gerhard Erasmus (6) also fell cheaply, becoming Van Schalkwyk’s second victim (2/30).
The seamer now leads the tournament’s wicket charts with 13 wickets.
From there, Namibia never recovered and were left needing an unrealistic 38 runs from the final over.
