In a high-octane clash at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, the United States delivered a batting masterclass against Namibia, setting a daunting target of 200 runs in their T20 World Cup 2026 encounter. Captain Monank Patel and Sanjay Krishnamurti smashed fifties to propel USA to 199 for 4 in their 20 overs, keeping their Super 8 aspirations alive in Group A.
Opting to bat first after winning the toss on Sunday, USA lost early wickets but recovered spectacularly. Patel anchored the innings with a brisk 52 off 30 balls, featuring three boundaries and three sixes. He stitched a 68-run opening stand with Shayan Jahangir in just 6.5 overs before Jahangir fell for 22 off 18.
Patel then added 21 more with Saitaja Mukkamalla (17) to push the score to 89 for 2. Mukkamalla’s departure triggered a mini-collapse, with USA slipping to 103 for 3. Enter Sanjay Krishnamurti, who unleashed fireworks, remaining unbeaten on 68 off 33 balls with four fours and six massive sixes.
Krishnamurti’s 87-run partnership with Milind Kumar (28 off 20) in 46 balls turned the game, propelling USA to a formidable total. Namibia’s Willem Myburgh and Gerhard Erasmus picked up two wickets each, but it wasn’t enough to stem the tide.
USA, sitting third in Group A with one win from three, now eye a crucial victory to boost their qualification chances. Namibia faces a steep chase under lights at Chepauk, where dew could play a factor.
USA Playing XI: Monank Patel (c), Shayan Jahangir (wk), Saitaja Mukkamalla, Sanjay Krishnamurti, Shubham Ranjane, Milind Kumar, Harmeet Singh, Mohammad Mohsin, Shadley van Schalkwyk, Ali Khan, Saurabh Netravalkar.
Namibia Playing XI: Jan Frylinck, Lorne Steenkamp, Jannik Loftie-Eaton, Gerhard Erasmus (c), JJ Smit, Zane Green (wk), Dylan Leicher, Ruben Trumpelmann, Willem Myburgh, Bernard Scholtz, Max Heyns.