T20 World Cup 2024: Silicon Valley coder Saurabh Netravalkar (2/18 in 4 overs) devised a couple of flawless scripts to eliminate an off-form Virat Kohli (0). With the help of Suryakumar Yadav’s composure and Arshdeep Singh’s skill, India managed to stave off the United States’ challenge and secure a Super Eight spot in the T20 World Cup on Wednesday by winning by seven wickets. India made simple work of an easy chase on a somewhat difficult surface as Arshdeep’s career-best 4 for 9 restricted USA to what appeared to be a manageable 110 for 8, until Suryakumar (50 not out off 49 balls) reasserted his title as the world’s top-ranked T20 batter. In the companionship of Shivam Dube (31 not out off 35 balls), who didn’t inspire much confidence despite the chase being completed in 18.2 overs, he swapped his flamboyance, waiting like a predator on the search for his prey.
For the fourth wicket stand to remain intact, the Surya-Dube combination contributed 67 runs.
The US bowlers’ apparent ignorance of the rules appeared to be the pivotal moment when they broke the restriction of only 60 seconds between overs three times, giving up five penalty runs at a critical juncture.
When umpire Paul Reiffel told captain Aaron Jones that India required 35 off 30 balls at that point, the US resistance was essentially broken. Surya waited for that chance, and he took advantage of it to quickly end the match with a barrage of shots.
However, not until Silicon Valley Oracle programmer Saurabh Netravalkar (2/18 in 4 overs) created a pair of flawless programs to remove an out-of-form Virat Kohli (0) with a delivery that curved away. When Rohit Sharma saw the dismissal, he was surprised. Then, Netravalkar bowled a slower delivery that found the willow’s leading edge of his former Mumbai senior partner, Rohit Sharma. After 11 overs, India was 53 for 3, needing 58 more runs in the final 9 overs, when Dube faltered once more. After a grueling battle of 25 deliveries, Dube finally broke the chains when he picked up Corey Anderson’s slower delivery and blasted it for a six over deep mid-wicket. Surya had earlier uppishly flicked Ali for a boundary towards mid-wicket.
The US team’s morale would undoubtedly be raised by the dismal Miami weather forecast, as a draw against Ireland would help them eliminate Pakistan from the competition. India will travel to Florida for their final group league match against Canada. After choosing to bowl, Arshdeep didn’t let up, amassing career-best figures of 4/9 as the USA achieved 110 for 8, a respectable but unspectacular total considering the track at the Nassau County Cricket Ground. The Indian pace attack was a step up in terms of class and quality for the USA batters after they had seen two valiant batting efforts in their back-to-back wins.
The hosts would hardly have felt the noose being eased around their necks during any play period. But the USA added another 68 in the back-10 after scoring 42 in the first ten, helped by helpful efforts from Nitish Kumar (27), Steven Taylor (24), and former New Zealand international Anderson (15). The Indians could not turn back after Arshdeep made a few breakthroughs in the first over, including the first-ball wicket of Shayan Jahangir. They consistently delivered intense performances, alternating between longer, more expansive delivery and more brevity. The left-arm bowler, who bowled an amazing 17 dot balls in the end, was outstanding from the outset as well. While Dube’s (0/11) performance left skipper Rohit with little expectation for a strong bowling option, Hardik Pandya (2/14) was once again quite productive with the ball.
