Sanjay’s 68, bowlers seal 31-run win as USA stay alive for Super 8 round | T20 World Cup 2026

Sanjay Krishnamurthi’s explosive unbeaten half-century, followed by a disciplined bowling display, propelled the United States to a crucial 31-run victory over Namibia in a must-win Group C clash here on Sunday, keeping their slim Super Eight hopes alive. With back-to-back wins, the United States finished the group stage with four points and is in second place after India’s victory over Pakistan. They remain in contention for a place in the next round of Group A, although it will depend on the outcome of the Pakistan v Namibia match.

Opting to bat, skipper Monank Patel set the tone with a fluent 30-ball 52 before Krishnamurthi hammered an unbeaten 68 from 33 balls to take the United States to their highest-ever total in a T20 World Cup of 199/4, also the second-highest total by a team in the Men’s T20 World Cup.

In response, Namibia were restricted to 168/6 despite a good start from Louren Steenkamp (58 from 39 balls; 5×4, 3×6).

Namibian opener Steenkamp provided fireworks early on, notably in a 20-run fifth over when he smashed Ali Khan for two fours and a six.

But the United States immediately hit back when Shadley van Schalkwyk dismissed Jan Frylinck (19), who missed a shot straight at the thrower.

Namibia maintained their attacking approach, with Steenkamp finding strong support in Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton.

The duo added 45 runs off 31 balls, keeping the required pace in check.

Loftie-Eaton impressed with innovative shots, including reverse sweeps and inside-out shots, as Namibia reached 97 for one at halfway, needing 103 from the final 10 overs.

Loftie-Eaton finished the 10th over in style with a superb reverse sweep off Milind Kumar, but a smart bowling change from Monank changed the game.

He brought back Saurabh Netravalkar (1/27), who dismissed Loftie-Eaton as the batter attempted another reverse sweep, but found Shubham Ranjane at third man.

Soon after, Steenkamp bowled a 33-ball fifty, but fell in the next over with another smart move from Monank introducing Ranjane’s medium pace, as it paid off as Steenkamp missed an off-cutter.

The double blow causes a collapse. Namibia lost two batters for 13 runs, and skipper Gerhard Erasmus (6) also fell cheaply, becoming the second victim of Van Schalkwyk (2/30).

The seamer now leads the tournament wicket charts with 13 wickets.

From there, Namibia never recovered and needed an unrealistic 38 points from the final.

Previously, the United States had built its total on solid foundations.

Monank attacked from the start, reaching fifty in just 30 balls.

After a brief middle-order slowdown, Sanjay took control in the death overs, with his 33-ball 68 not out to push the United States close to the 200-mark.

Sanjay, 22, who started dreaming of international cricket after witnessing India’s triumph at the 2011 World Cup and began his cricket journey in Bengaluru before moving to San Francisco during the COVID-19 pandemic, played a breathtaking knock studded with six sixes and four fours.

Sanjay and Milind Kumar stitched an unbeaten 87-run stand for the fourth wicket to lift the innings.

Sanjay was a bit lucky early on as he was dropped in the 32nd over when Namibian skipper Erasmus attempted a fine run-in but lost control of the ball while turning and the reprieve proved costly.

The youngster then shifted gears, bringing up his maiden T20I fifty in style.

He took charge in the 17th over against Ruben Trumpelmann, smashing three sixes in a row, including one off a waist-high no-ball, to reach a half-century off 23 balls.

Earlier, USA got off to a good start with Monank and Shayan Jahangir adding 68 runs in just 6.5 overs. The pair put together nearly 11 runs per over in the powerplay.

Monank was at his attacking best, hammering three sixes, including two off JJ Smit, and reaching his fifty in just 27 balls. He finished the powerplay in style, hitting Smit for a six and two fours in a 19-run over as the United States reached 65 without defeat.

Jahangir also looked in good touch, hitting a six and a two-four before Namibia hit back through the returning Willem Myburgh.

Myburgh dismissed Jahangir first, deceiving him with a slower delivery which resulted in an over edge at mid-off.

In his next over, he dismissed the skipper as Namibia recovered briefly, Erasmus striking in his first over with his clever variations.

But they struggled on the field and paid the price as Sanjay finished strongly.