T20 WC 2026: USA vs Namibia Match 26 Highlights – Best moments & who won today?

USA beat Namibia by 31 runs in the 26th match of T20 World Cup 2026 in Chennai after setting them 200 and never letting them in the game. Put to bat, USA built a solid start through captain Monank Patel’s 52 off 30, then completely flipped the game in the last phase through Sanjay Krishnamurthi’s brutal finishing. Krishnamurthi smashed an unbeaten 68 off 33 at a strike rate of 206, launching six sixes and hitting four fours to power USA to 199/4, with Milind Kumar also chipping in. USA finished with 11 sixes in the innings.

Namibia replied with intent as Lourens Steenkamp’s 58 off 39 kept them in the chase, but the required rate kept climbing as USA attack kept things tight and disciplined. Shadley van Schalkwyk returned 2/30, while Saurabh Netravalkar conceded just 27 in four overs and took a wicket. Even in defeat, Willem Myburgh stood tall with a classy 2/22 at an economy of 5.5.

Top batting performance: Sanjay Krishnamurthi

Sanjay Krishnamurthi was the standout performer with the bat, blasting an unbeaten 68 off just 33 deliveries. He provided impetus to the USA innings, shifting the momentum in the latter half. Krishnamurthi’s knock was laced with six towering sixes and four boundaries.

Top bowling performance: Willem Myburgh

Willem Myburgh was Namibia’s standout bowler, delivering an outstanding spell, conceding 22 runs at an economy of 5.5, while also picking up two crucial wickets. Even as the USA batters dominated and scored freely at the other end, Myburgh maintained his control in an otherwise tough outing for the Namibian bowling attack.

Records Broken and Major Milestones Achieved

• 57/1 is Namibia’s highest-ever powerplay score in T20 World Cup history.
• 199/4 is the second-highest total by an Associate nation in T20 World Cup history.
• Sanjay Krishnamurthi registered the third-fastest fifty by an Associate batter in T20 World Cup history.
• Monank Patel now holds the record for the most 50-plus scores for USA in T20Is (8).
• 65/0 is the highest powerplay score for USA in their T20 World Cup appearances.

Who was the Player of the Match?

Sanjay Krishnamurthi was deservedly named Player of the Match. Walking in during the middle phase, he finished with an unbeaten on 68 off just 33 deliveries. His ability to clear the ropes with ease, striking six sixes and four fours to power USA through the death overs and lift them to a commanding total. This was the third-fastest fifty by an Associate batter in T20 World Cup history.

When is the next match?

Namibia will then play their next fixture against Pakistan in Colombo, with the match set to start at 3:00 PM on February 18.

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