Cricket

US keep T20 World Cup hopes alive with win over Namibia

By AAP Newswire

Feb 16, 2026

US batter Sanjay Krishnamurthi smashing a six as the US powered to a World T20 win over Namibia. -AP

The United States have kept their hopes of reaching the Twenty20 World Cup's Super 8 ‌stage alive as they ended their Group A campaign with ‌two straight wins, after beating Namibia by 31 runs on ‌Sunday.

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Captain Monank Patel and Sanjay Krishnamurthi led the way with half-centuries on Sunday after the Americans chose to bat and posted 4-199 in Chennai.

Namibia fell well short as Shadley van Schalkwyk (2-27) and ‌Saurabh Netravalkar (1-27) ‌restricted their ⁠flow of runs.

Patel, who scored 52 off 30 balls, got the US off to a fast start and combined with Krishnamurthi for an 87-run partnership for the fourth wicket to get his team to their highest ⁠total in the campaign.

Krishnamurthi hit ‌six sixes and four boundaries in his unbeaten knock of 68 from 33 ‌balls, his first half-century in T20 internationals.

Namibia started well with Louren Steenkamp (58) guiding them to 1-97 in 10 overs, but struggled after Steenkamp got caught at point in the 13th over, ending their innings at 6-168 ‌to lose their third straight game.

The US, who lost their first two matches to India and Pakistan, finished with four points, and will hope their positive net run-rate earns them a top-two finish and a place in the ⁠next round.