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MUMBAI: Suryakumar Yadav and bowlers combined to steer India to a 29-run victory over USA in the third fixture of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
Set a challenging 162, the USA fell short of the target and managed 132-8 in 20 overs despite showcasing an excellent display with the ball.
India inflicted a poor start on USA, who lost their top three batters in the first three overs.
As a result, USA were reduced to 13-3 with Milind Kumar and Sanjay Krishnamurthi at the crease.
The pair arrested the slide with a 58-run partnership, although it came on the slower side on 52 balls.
USA scorecard read 71 when Varun Chakravarthy broke the partnership to give India an opening.
The mystery spinner removed Milind Kumar who made 34 from 34 balls.
After the breakthrough wicket, Indian bowlers chipped on and took wickets at regular intervals which never allowed the USA batters to settle down.
As a result, they ended short of the target with Shubham Ranjane losing his wicket on the final ball of the innings.
The right-hander’s valiant knock of 37 from 22 included three sixes and two fours.
For India, Mohammed Siraj picked up three wickets.
Ealier, Suryakumar Yadav played a captain’s knock to lift India out of trouble against a disciplined USA bowling lineup
USA capitalized on the decision to bowl first as they limited the strong Indian batting lineup to 161-9 in 20 overs.
The hosts were put in early trouble right from the outset as their dashing opener Abhishek Sharma was sent back for a duck in the second over.
The left-hander could not make his World Cup debut memorable, holing out to a deep cover.
After an early wicket, Ishan Kishan played some shots and kept the scoreboard ticking.
He added 37 with returning Tilak Varma for the second wicket, bringing the total to 45. However, Shadley van Schalkwyk’s triple-wicket over put his side in a top position at the end of the powerplay.
He removed Kishan (20) and Varma (25), which was followed by the wicket of Shivam Dube, who could not open his account.
As a result, India were in dire straits with 46-4 at the end of the six overs.
Rinku Singh came to the fore to rescue India and stitched a 26-run partnership with captain Suryakumar Yadav. The pair brought the total to 72 in 11.4 as the partnership was broken in the form of Rinku’s wicket.
The left-hander managed six from 14 before getting caught at long on. The slide continued as all-rounder Hardik Pandya could not trouble the scorers much. He made five as the home side were 77-6.
It was all Suryakumar Yadav’s calculated knock, which not only helped them cross the 150 mark but ensured that they finished on a strong note.
The skipper kept losing partners at the other end and capitalized on the last over from Saurabh Netravalkar, amassing 21 runs.
He remained unbeaten on 84 from 49 balls, striking four sixes and 10 fours.
For the USA, it was a clinical bowling effort except for Netravalkar, who had forgettable figures of 65/0 in four overs. Apart from him, Shadley van Schalkwyk remained the standout bowler, taking four wickets.
Harmeet Singh also provided support from the other end with his two wickets in economical spin bowling.
