India book Super Eight spot after seven-wicket win over US

WESTBURY, NY (AP):

NO UPSET this time for the United States as the T20 World Cup joint-hosts were easily beaten by cricket heavyweights India yesterday at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York.

Suryakumar Yadav’s half-century powered India to a seven-wicket win over the US, who had shocked Pakistan last week.

With the win, India reached the Super Eight round. The US can advance by beating Ireland on Friday.

Yadvav’s 50 came off 49 balls and included two fours and two sixes. He put on 72 off 65 balls for the unbeaten fourth wicket with Shivam Dube, who scored 31 not out as India scored 111-3 in 18.2 overs in reply to the United States’110-8.

Left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh took 4-9 in four overs to restrict the co-hosts after India had won the toss and opted to field.

In reply, India got into early trouble as India-born medium pacer Saurabh Netravalkar continued his golden run for the Americans.

After bowling the co-hosts to the upset over Pakistan, he celebrated the wickets of Indian superstars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.

Kohli was caught behind for a golden duck while Sharma fell to a slower delivery after just three runs to his name. Netravalkar finished with 2-18 from his four overs.

Rishabh Pant scored 18 off 20 balls, batting at number three, but was bowled off an Ali Khan delivery that kept low. India were 39-3 in 7.3 overs, putting the possibility of a second US shocker on the table.

Yadav and Dube absorbed the pressure, however, digging India out of their hole. They didn’t look to score quickly against the duo’s celebrated natural style of play, instead spending time at the difficult wicket.

India crossed 50 only after 11 overs. But the chase was given a boost when five penalty runs were awarded after the 15th over, with the US guilty of running the clock past 60 seconds between overs on three occasions.

Yadav then took 15 runs off Shadley van Schalkwyk’s 17th over as India crossed the finish line with relative ease.

Earlier, Singh picked up two wickets in the game’s first over, leaving the Americans limping with just three runs on the board.

He trapped opener Shayan Jahangir lbw for a golden duck, while Andries Gous went caught for two. Steven Taylor scored 24 off 30 balls to help recover the innings, but Singh returned later to dismiss top-scorer Nitish Kumar for 27.

Hardik Pandya also picked up 2-14 in his four-over spell, accounting for stand-in skipper Aaron Jones (11) and hard-hitting Corey Anderson (15).