India storm into Super Eights with another fine win over the USA

Team India booked their Super Eight berth with another clinical victory against USA as the scorecard would suggest, however, there were a few hiccups along the way and a couple of dropped chances that cost USA dearly. In what seemed to be a very close contest, the hosts fell short with the bat but their bowlers kept on pushing India till the very fringes until Suryakumar Yadav put an end to the resistance with some late blitzkrieg after a reticent start.

Winning the toss, India opted to bowl first. India managed to register success on the very first ball as Arshdeep Singh rattled the kneeroll of Shayan Jahangir and he was back for a golden duck. Arshdeep struck again in that same over with a back of a length delivery that threw Andries Gous (2) off his shape and what followed thereafter was a very clumsy enterprise and Hardik Pandya made no mistake in latching onto the grab.

Up next in India’s long line of heroes for the day was Hardik Pandya, who removed the experienced Aaron Jones with his stock ball, the bouncer. A quicker bumper banged into the surface was enough for Pandya to leave USA’s star batter bamboozled.

USA did manage to fight back through Steven Taylor (24) and Nitish Kumar but the battle was transient. It was the introduction of Axar Patel that did the trick for Team India as he rattled through the defences of the former. Nitish did put up a prolonged fight but the return of Arshdeep into the attack got the better of the American resistance.

It was a stunning catch from Mohammed Siraj that saw him backtracking emphatically before latching onto the stunner and eventually rolling up successfully to leave Nitish stunned for 27. From thereon it was only a steep descent into despair for the hosts.

The experienced Corey Anderson (15) couldn’t do much either as Hardik Pandya continued with his wicket-taking spree. Arshdeep added another one to his tally as he removed Harmeet Singh for a paltry 10. USA could only manage 110/8 from their allotted 20 overs. Arshdeep was the pick of the lot as he chronicled figures of 4-0-9-4.

The Indian batters, however, had an early scare as they lost Virat Kohli for a golden duck. Compounding India’s woes, Rohit Sharma, the captain of the team, also fell for just three runs. Rishabh Pant (18) did try and battle alongside a struggling Suryakumar Yadav but his tales of glory were also cut short when Ali Khan rammed through his defences.

Wobbling at 39/3 in the first eight overs, India rode on the shoulders of SKY and Shivam Dube (31*) to keep on pushing towards the finishing line. Despite a twist along every alternate corner of the road, Yadav, who stayed unbeaten for a fine 50 got the job done for Team India alongside Dube. India secured a 7-wicket win over the USA to sail into the Super Eight while Arshdeep Singh won the Player of the Match award.