“We weren’t good enough,” says Australia’s Matt Renshaw after the 23-run defeat by Zimbabwe in the T20 World Cup.
In reply, Netherlands were bowled out for 103 in 15.5 overs. Left-arm spinner Harmeet Singh returned figures of 4 for 21, the best by an American bowler in a T20 World Cup match.Harmeet did not capitalize on the sharp turn but benefited from errors from the batsmen. Opener Max O’Dowd (13) and all-rounder Bas de Leede (23) were dismissed off short deliveries that were hit by fielders. He also played a flat delivery that beat skipper Scott Edwards and another straight ball that trapped Roelof de Merwe lbw.Left-arm spinner Nosthush Kenjige accounted for Michael Levitt with a ball that stayed low.Chasing a surface that slowed down as the match progressed, Netherlands failed to build a partnership and failed to reach the target.Earlier, Mukkamalla set the platform with his 79. He shared the second wicket with skipper Monank Patel (36) by 55 runs and added 54 for the fourth wicket with Ranjan.Mukkamalla, who trained at the VVS Laxman-run academy in Hyderabad, hit five fours and four sixes. Scored freely from offside, including shots over cover.Ranjane attacked in the final overs and mastered the short ball approach used by the Dutch bowlers. He hit Roelof van der Merwe for six in a row and retired both Bas de Leede and Logan van Beek.At one stage, with Mukkamalla and Ranjan at the crease, the USA were on a total of over 200. However, van Beek and de Leede varied their pace on the Chepauk surface to limit further damage.Bas de Leede, son of former Dutch seamer Tim de Leede, finished with figures of 3 for 37.