T20 Cricket World Cup: India just edges past USA despite host nation’s valiant effort

CNN —

India proved too strong for the USA at the T20 Cricket World Cup, with the joint host falling to a seven-wicket defeat in New York on Wednesday.

The USA beat Pakistan in a historic victory earlier in the tournament but failed to follow it up with a win against heavy favorite India – despite the underdog pushing the cricket powerhouse close throughout.

India now tops Group A with six points having won all three of its games at the World Cup, with the USA in second place with four points.

Despite the defeat, the USA still has a good chance of progressing to the next round of the tournament and faces Ireland in their last group stage game, needing a win to secure its spot in the knockout stages.

Early Indian dominance

If there was ever hope of an upset, it looked like India quickly put a stop to it.

Having won the toss, India elected to field first at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York, which has been favorable for bowlers so far throughout the tournament.

Arshdeep Singh was given the new ball and with it took a wicket with the very first delivery of the game – the left-arm seamer swinging a ball back into USA’s opening batter Shayan Jahangir and getting him out leg before wicket (LBW).

Singh followed it up with the wicket of Andries Gous in the same over and India was already firmly in the driving seat.

The USA innings never really got going following the early dominance from the Indian bowlers and the fielding side continued to pile on the misery for the home nation.

Despite Nitish Kumar’s best efforts, leading the American batters with 27 runs, the USA was reduced to 110-8 following its 20 overs batting.

Singh was the star of the Indian bowling attack and took an impressive four