India qualified for the top 8 in the T20 World Cup by beating the USA in New York.

New Delhi, June 12, 2024: India secured a comfortable seven-wicket victory over the USA in their T20 World Cup match at the Nassau Country International Cricket Stadium in New York on Wednesday, becoming the first team from Group A to qualify for the Super Eight stage.

India’s top order lost their wickets cheaply:

After early setbacks with Virat Kohli dismissed on the first ball and skipper Rohit Sharma falling cheaply, Suryakumar Yadav anchored India’s chase with an unbeaten  50 off 49 balls, guiding the team to victory in 18.2 overs.

Suryakumar first stitched a steady partnership with Rishabh Pant (18 off 20) and later built a match-winning, unbeaten stand of 67 runs with Shivam Dube (31 off 35) to seal the win.

Indian skipper won the toss and elected to field first:

Earlier, Bharat won the toss and chose to bowl first on a lively pitch that offered plenty of assistance to pacers.

Arshdeep Singh shines with a wicket haul.

Bharat pacer Arshdeep Singh produced a stunning spell, claiming 4 wickets for just 9 runs in 4 overs, the best bowling figure by an Indian in T20 World Cup history. He was named the player of the match.

Arshdeep gave India a dream start, striking twice in the opening over to remove both USA openers. The hosts recovered through Steven Taylor (24 off 30) and skipper Aaron Jones (11), followed by a small partnership between Taylor and Nitish Kumar (27 off 23).

However, Bharat’s bowlers maintained pressure throughout. Nitish Kumar was caught brilliantly by Mohammad Siraj at deep mid-wicket, while Corey Anderson (15 off 12), the former New Zealand all-rounder now representing the USA, was dismissed by Rishabh Pant behind the stumps.

The USA managed 109 for 8 in 20 overs, with Arshdeep (4/9), Hardik Pandya (2/14), and Axar Patel (1/25) doing the damage.

Brief Scores:

USA—109/8 in 20 overs (Nitish Kumar 27, Steven Taylor 24, Corey Anderson 15, Arshdeep Singh 4/9, Hardik Pandya 2/14, Axar Patel 1/25.

India—111/3 in 18.2 overs (Suryakumar Yadav 50, Shivam Dubey 31, Rishabh Pant 18, Saurabh Netravalkar 2/18, Ali Khan 1/21.

Result—India won by 7 wickets

Player of the Match—Arshdeep Singh.

Also Read: The BCCI announced the Team India Squad for the T20 World Cup.

EOM.