USA vs Namibia Highlights, T20 World Cup 2026: USA clinch 31-run victory over Namibia

Bernard Scholtz to Saiteja Mukkamalla, Landed outside off, skids through, Saiteja Mukkamalla looks to force it through the off side but gets a bit of an outside edge towards short third.

Will we see spin from both ends? Yes. Bernard Scholtz returns. 1-0-5-0 so far.

Willem Myburgh to Saiteja Mukkamalla, Tossed up, full and outside off, driven along the turf to long off for a single.

Boy, did Namibia need that. They were really under the pump. Saiteja Mukkamalla walks in next, at number 3, replacing Shayan Jahangir.

Willem Myburgh to Shayan Jahangir, OUT! CAUGHT! At last, Namibia get a wicket and it is through spin. Tossed up, around off and here is the change in pace. It is slower but Shayan Jahangir is already through his shot. He goes down on a knee and targets the slog sweep. One presumes, the area is either square leg or mid-wicket. But because he plays early, he miscues it, getting it towards long on, where JJ Smit has all the time in the world to get across to his left and pouch the catch. The 68-run stand has been broken. Not the quickest of knocks from Jahangir, but his contribution will go down well noted.

Willem Myburgh to Shayan Jahangir, Dragged length, darted into the right-hander. Jahangir steps out to go big leg side but gets a big inside edge onto the pads.

Willem Myburgh to Monank Patel, The googly, around off, 92.1 kph, short again, Monank has enough time to go back and push this through mid on for a run.

Willem Myburgh to Shayan Jahangir, Fullish length, angled into the pads. Jahangir stays put and looks to nudge it fine but the ball hits his pads and rolls away to the left of the keeper. They get a leg bye.

Willem Myburgh to Monank Patel, A short ball to start, around middle, Monank Patel goes back and nudges it through square leg for a single.

DRINKS BREAK. Boy, have USA got off to a dream start or what. They have bettered their Powerplay from the previous match, where they finished 53/1 and have gone onto register their maiden 50-run opening stand of this edition. The pitch looks like a belter would be an understatement. But having said that, Namibia have not bowled all that well either. They have struggled to change the pace of ball, and with the lengths too. Neither have they looked to swing the ball, nor have they to looked to bounce the batters out - meaning, neither full nor short. Totally inconsistent. Time for some wrist spin now. Here comes Willem Myburgh.

JJ Smit to Monank Patel, Tapped away for a single, but 19 runs come off the final over of the Powerplay. Back of a length, on middle and leg, Patel nudges it down through mid-wicket for a single. USA are 65/0 after 6.

JJ Smit to Monank Patel, FOUR! 18 from the over, and there is still a ball to go! On a length, around off, angling away, Patel gives himself a bit of room to the leg side and punches it between cover and mid off for a boundary!

JJ Smit to Monank Patel, A full toss on the pads, Patel clips it away just wide of deep mid-wicket and the batters do well to pinch a couple of runs here.

JJ Smit to Monank Patel, EDGED, FOUR! Gets a bit of luck this time. Smit bowls this a shade fuller than the previous one and Monak looks to heave it through the leg side. But the ball angles away and flies off the top edge, just over point, racing down to the fence behind.

JJ Smit to Monank Patel, SIX! BANG! Dug in short, around leg and middle, Monank Patel comes forward and lofts it on the up, well over mid on, clearing the ropes with ease! 50-RUN STAND UP, IN 32 BALLS!

JJ Smit to Monank Patel, Good work in the field from Namibia. On a good length, attacking the top of off. Monank Patel shimmies down the pitch and lofts it over wide mid off without any real timing. The fielder runs behind and slides to save the boundary. The fielder from extra cover mops it up and keeps it down to two.

Final over of the Powerplay. Can Namibia manage to sneak in a wicket? JJ Smit will bowl again. 1-0-11-0 so far.

Ruben Trumpelmann to Monank Patel, A slight misfield but it doesn't cost any extra runs. Back of a length and over middle, Patel pulls it without much timing and the mid-wicket fielder fails to pick up the ball cleanly. Just a single.

Ruben Trumpelmann to Shayan Jahangir, Length again from Trumpelmann, on the pads. Jahangir misses the flick and the ball goes off the pads to short fine leg. The batters cross for a leg bye.

Ruben Trumpelmann to Shayan Jahangir, Good length, in the channel, nudged down to backward point.

Ruben Trumpelmann to Shayan Jahangir, Lofted away and again, it will land safely. Short ball over middle, Jahangir swivels a bit and pulls it well to the left of deep backward square leg. The fielder manages to put in the slide and saves a couple of runs for his side.

Ruben Trumpelmann to Monank Patel, Ruben comes around the wicket and bowls it back of a length, angling it into the body. Patel tries backing away and ends up jamming it down through mid on for one.

Ruben Trumpelmann to Monank Patel, SIX! Welcome back, mate! On a length, outside off, angling away, Monank Patel steps a bit to the leg side and slaps it way over cover for half a dozen!

Might be another bowling change, but we suspect it will be one of the previous three bowlers who bowled prior to Scholtz. Yep. Ruben Trumpelmann returns. 1-0-7-0 so far.

Bernard Scholtz to Monank Patel, Flat and full, around off, driven down to long off for the fifth single of the over.

Bernard Scholtz to Shayan Jahangir, Dragged length outside off, Jahangir rocks back and slaps it down to long off for another single.

Bernard Scholtz to Monank Patel, Flighted delivery at the stumps, Patel miscues the slog and gets it square through the leg side for a single.

Bernard Scholtz to Shayan Jahangir, In the air but will fall well short of the fielder in the deep. On the shorter side, Jahangir hoicks it away off the back foot and the ball goes on the bounce to the deep mid-wicket fielder. Single taken.

Bernard Scholtz to Shayan Jahangir, Fuller in length, on middle, Jahangir leans forward and blocks it back to the bowler.

Bernard Scholtz to Monank Patel, Slightly round-arm, drifted into middle, Patel looks to drive but gets it off the inner half of the blade past square leg for one.

4th bowler in 4 overs? Yes indeed! Time for spin. Bernard Scholtz will bowl his left-armers.

Max Heingo to Shayan Jahangir, Shorter and on leg, Jahangir works it off the hips and gets it 'round the corner on the leg side for a couple of runs to end the over. 12 from the over, 23 in the last 2!

Max Heingo to Shayan Jahangir, Hard length, straighter in line, Jahangir tucks it down to short fine leg.

Max Heingo to Shayan Jahangir, Nice change up. Pitched up a bit fuller and on off, pace off from Heingo. Jahangir charges at it a bit but ends up just easing it towards mid off.

Max Heingo to Shayan Jahangir, SIX! BALLISTIC! Short again, around off, this time Jahangir stays back and pulls it magnificently over mid-wicket! Also, that will be 1000 runs across all T20s (domestic plus international) for Jahangir.

Max Heingo to Shayan Jahangir, FOUR! This outfield is lightning quick. A short ball, outside off, angling away, Shayan Jahangir gets on top of the bounce and punches it through the covers for a boundary. Normally, with the length short, you either cut or pull. This was a fabulous shot with so much control.

An early bowling change. Max Heingo has been given the ball.

Max Heingo to Shayan Jahangir, Back of a length and outside off, Jahangir pre-meditates and shuffles to the off side but flicks it straight to the fielder at short fine leg.

JJ Smit to Monank Patel, Two more, and that's excellent running. Shorter in length, over middle and leg, Monank Patel gets up on his toes and stabs it into the big open space at mid-wicket and races back for the second run. 11 off the over.

JJ Smit to Monank Patel, Length ball on the pads, flicked away down to the right of deep backward square leg for a couple of runs.

JJ Smit to Monank Patel, Well bowled! Smit sees Patel charging at him and digs in a bumper over the front shoulder. Patel looks to pull but is beaten.

JJ Smit to Monank Patel, Oh, the USA skipper isn't happy with the non-striker. Fuller and around off, played with soft hands to backward point and Patel sets off for the single but Shayan Jahangir sends him back.

JJ Smit to Monank Patel, SIX! AUDACIOUS! Just a bit short, but no pace to trouble the batter. Monank Patel picks the length in a trice and pulls it way over square leg!

JJ Smit to Shayan Jahangir, Tap and run. Back of a length, angling back into the batter. Jahangir comes forward and dabs it gently in front of mid-wicket for a quick single.

Eventful opening over. JJ Smit will bowl from the other end, sharing the new ball.

Ruben Trumpelmann to Monank Patel, A dot to end the first over and USA are 7/0. Good-length delivery, in and around off, Patel taps it down to covers.

Ruben Trumpelmann to Shayan Jahangir, Jahangir didn't know much about that. Dug in shorter and angled across from off and middle. Shayan Jahangir pulls out of the shot but leaves the bat dangling in the air and the ball takes the toe end before rolling down to deep third for a single.

Ruben Trumpelmann to Shayan Jahangir, FOUR! Not convincing, but USA won't care. Delivered with the seam this time. It lands on a length and then seams away. Shayan Jahangir looks to open the face of the bat, but is a bit late, beaten by pace. The ball takes a bit of an outside edge, but goes to ground, past the diving first slip, to his right, into the deep third fence.

Ruben Trumpelmann to Monank Patel, DROPPED! Tough chance. Trumpelmann rolls his fingers over the ball and changes the pace effectively, landing the ball on a length. Monank Patel is early into his push and cannot control his shot. The ball comes late, goes off the face of the bat and pops up in the air. Cover-point is a bit late to react and hence, leaps late. The ball brushes his fingertips and lobs, but beyond him. A single taken.

Ruben Trumpelmann to Monank Patel, Trumpelmann pulls the length back and bowls it around off, slanting it away. Patel hops up to block.