T20 World Cup: USA down Namibia to keep Super 8s qualification hopes alive

United States' captain Monank Patel, right, and Shayan Jahangir greets each other. (AP Photo)

CHENNAI: On Sunday at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, opportunity knocked twice, and USA skipper Monank Patel (52, 30 balls; 3x4, 3x6) and all-rounder Sanjay Krishnamurthi (68*, 33 balls; 4x4, 6x6) flung the door wide open. Granted a life apiece, the American pair went on to smash scintillating half-centuries to propel their team to a 31-run win over Namibia in their final group-stage outing.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! While Super Eights qualification remains a long shot, the victory keeps USA’s slender hopes flickering like a candle. For Namibia, however, the lights have gone out, even with one game left.

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Chasing a stiff target of 200, Namibia began with good intent as opener Louren Steenkamp scored a gritty 58 (off 39 balls; 5x4, 3x6). However, the early surge evaporated under the Chepauk floodlights as the asking rate climbed, and they eventually finished on 168-6. Opting to bat first, USA exploded to 65-0 in the powerplay. Skipper Monank made Namibia pay for a first-over reprieve, as he was dropped on 0. Left-arm pacer JJ Smit bore the brunt in the sixth over, with Monank hitting three stunning boundaries off him. He laid the foundation alongside opener Shayan Jahangir, sharing a 68-run stand for the first wicket. Namibia turned to their spinners to stem USA’s charge, and were successful for a brief period before Sanjay came to the crease. He took a few deliveries to assess the conditions and then unleashed an array of strokes, taking the Namibian bowlers to the cleaners. In the 17th over, Sanjay was dropped on 32 by Namibian skipper Gerhard Erasmus off left-arm seamer Ruben Trumpelmann’s bowling. Making the most of his lifeline, Sanjay struck back in the same over. He first drilled a four and then three towering sixes in succession to bring up his half-century from 23 deliveries in style.Brief Scores: USA 199 for 4 in 20 overs (Monank Patel 52, Sanjay Krishnamurthi 68 not out; Willem Myburgh 2/22) bt Namibia 168 for 6 in 20 overs (Louren Steenkamp 58; Shadley van Schalkwyk 2/30).

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