WESTBURY, N.Y. (AP) — There was no upset this time around as the home team of the United States was easily defeated by cricketing powerhouse India in the Twenty20 World Cup on Wednesday.
Suryakumar Yadav’s fifty led India to a seven-wicket win over the USA. Pakistan is shocked last week.
The win puts India into the “Super 8” round; the U.S. needs to beat Ireland on Friday to advance.
Yadvav’s fifty came in 49 balls that included two fours and two sixes. He, along with Shivam Dube, who scored 31, scored 72 off 65 balls for an unbeaten fourth wicket as India took 111 for 3 in 18.2 overs before replying to the USA with 110 for 8 (20 overs).
Left-arm fast bowler Arshdeep Singh took 4-9 from four overs to hold the co-hosts in check after India won the coin toss and chose to defend at the Nassau County International Stadium.
After the US scored 110 (not even close to the average T20 score), India were now up to bat.
India struggled early in their chase. Saurabh Netravalkar, an Indian-born medium fast bowler He continued his golden career as a member of the US national team.
After leading the co-hosts to an upset over Pakistan, he celebrated the wickets of Indian superstars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.
Kohli was out off the very first ball for a golden duck, which will undoubtedly be a career highlight for Netravalkar, as Sharma fell to a slow ball for just three runs, with Netravalkar finishing with 2-18 from his four overs.
Rishabh Pant, batting at no.3, scored 18 off 20 balls but was run out by a low-pitched ball from Ali Khan as India trailed by 39 for 3 in 7.3 overs, raising hopes that the United States could deliver an even bigger shock.
However, Yadav and Dube accepted the pressure and fought hard to pull India out of the bind, biding their time on a difficult wicket rather than going for quick runs against the duo’s renowned natural style of play.
India finally passed 50 in the 11th over, but their chase was spurred by the USA being awarded five penalty runs in the 15th over for three infringements for exceeding 60 seconds between overs.
Yadav then scored 15 runs off Shadley van Schalkwyk’s 17th over as India crossed the finish line with relative ease.
Earlier, Singh had taken two wickets in the first over, with the USA losing 3–2.
He had opener Shayan Jahangir lbw for a golden duck while Andries Guth was out for two. Steven Taylor scored 24 off 30 balls to help the innings recover.
Singh then returned to dismiss top-scorer Nitish Kumar for 27, his batting bolstering the innings as the United States trailed at 56 for 4 in 11.4 overs.
Hardik Pandya also took 2-14 in his four overs, beating stand-in captain Aaron Jones (11) and slugger Corey Anderson (15).
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