Hollywood News
Sanjay Does It For USA
Chennai: Following Saiteja Mukkamalla’s heroics in the previous match, another youngster of Indian origin took to the field for the USA on Sunday. A clean and fearless striker with roots in Karnataka, 22-year-old Sanjay Krishnamurthi announced himself on the big stage with his brilliant international half-century. His unbeaten 68 from just 33 deliveries, along with six powerful sixes, lifted the USA to their highest ever total in the T20 World Cup (199 for 4) and sealed a 31-run victory over Namibia at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.
Thus, while the USA completed the league campaign with consecutive victories, Namibia suffered its third consecutive defeat. Namibia kept pace with the target halfway through. Opener Louren Steenkamp (58 off 39 balls) spearheaded the attack but the chase was derailed as Namibia lost three quick wickets. They fell from 98 for 1 to 123 for 4.
Earlier, if Sanjay provided the final fireworks, it was captain Monank Patel who laid the foundation by controlling 52 off 30 balls. But luck favored both players. In the opening over, Monank fell for nothing and Sanjay got a reprieve on 32.
Monank took a series of strikes, deposited the ball in the middle of the goal, took cover and continued condescendingly for a long time. Left-arm seamer JJ Smit’s 19-run sixth over took the USA to 65 in the powerplay. Namibia finally found relief when leg-spinner Willem Myburgh broke their 68-run opening stand and dismissed Shayan Jahangir for 22.
The Namibian spinners – Myburgh and Bernard Scholtz – applied the brakes effectively, leaving just two boundaries between them in a tight spell in the middle. Monank, who made a fifty off 27 balls, fell to Myburgh.
USA’s momentum was briefly shaken when Saiteja departed for 17, leaving the team at 103 for three. However, Sanjay and Milind Kumar took control. After a relatively quiet quintet phase, the USA shifted gears. Scholtz’s 20-run 15th over reignited the attack and the total rose to 136 for three. The decisive blow came in the 17th over, when Sanjay smashed left-arm pacer Ruben Trumpelmann with three successive sixes; Two from long range, one carved over the deep point. He went for 26 extra runs and collected Sanjay’s fifty in just 23 balls. USA plundered 63 runs in the last six overs.
Earlier, if Sanjay provided the final fireworks, it was captain Monank Patel who laid the foundation by controlling 52 off 30 balls. But luck favored both players. In the opening over, Monank fell for nothing and Sanjay got a reprieve on 32.
Monank took a series of strikes, deposited the ball in the middle of the goal, took cover and continued condescendingly for a long time. Left-arm seamer JJ Smit’s 19-run sixth over took the USA to 65 in the powerplay. Namibia finally found relief when leg-spinner Willem Myburgh broke their 68-run opening stand and dismissed Shayan Jahangir for 22.
The Namibian spinners – Myburgh and Bernard Scholtz – applied the brakes effectively, leaving just two boundaries between them in a tight spell in the middle. Monank, who made a fifty off 27 balls, fell to Myburgh.
USA’s momentum was briefly shaken when Saiteja departed for 17, leaving the team at 103 for three. However, Sanjay and Milind Kumar took control. After a relatively quiet quintet phase, the USA shifted gears. Scholtz’s 20-run 15th over reignited the attack and the total rose to 136 for three. The decisive blow came in the 17th over, when Sanjay smashed left-arm pacer Ruben Trumpelmann with three successive sixes; Two from long range, one carved over the deep point. He went for 26 extra runs and collected Sanjay’s fifty in just 23 balls. USA plundered 63 runs in the last six overs.
