Harmeet Singh demolishes Nepal to give USA massive victory

Harmeet Singh spun a web around Nepal with a sensational six-wicket haul as the USA crushed Nepal by 106 runs to return to the top of the ICC World Cup League Two table. In pursuit of USA's 263, thanks mainly to Smit Patel's resolute knock of 75 and Milind Kumar's counterpunching 70*, Nepal never found momentum and folded for 156, undone by Harmeet's relentless accuracy and drift despite a surface that offered minimal turn as observed with the struggles of Sandeep Lamichhane in the first innings. The left-arm spinner returned career-best figures of 6 for 26, breaking the backbone of Nepal's chase as wickets fell in clusters.

Put into bat by Nepal, USA openers Smit Patel and Andries Gous were kept tested by Karan KC and Sompal Kami on a track that had something for the pacers early on. The innings crawled at two runs per over up until the 7th over when Gous broke the shackles by clubbing Karan over mid-off for a boundary. Just as he looked set to get back into his attacking groove, he paid the price to flash tentatively outside off to an innocuous Kami delivery in the next over. Monank Patel walked in and picked up from where he left off after his monumental MLC season, launching a trademark straight six back over the bowler's head. But his stay was short-lived-Aarif Sheikh got one to nip back in sharply, and Monank played all over it.

Smit burst into action with 3 boundaries of Gulsan Jha's first spell immediately after the PowerPlay. Smit and Sai Teja Mukkamalla began stitching in what would end up being a 95-run third-wicket stand. The pair treaded with caution after losing captain Monank but started shifting gears with the introduction of Lamichhane. The pair looted 38 in his six overs as they kept charging ahead. Smit looked impregnable as he motored along after his half century but his innings was cut short by a disastrous mix up in the middle that resulted in his run out, the only way he looked likely to be dismissed. Smit's dismissal opened the door for further setbacks for USA as Lamichhane came back immediately to exact his revenge by having Mukkamalla chop one back to his stumps for an impressive innings of 42.

At 133 for 4, the innings needed rescuing and Milind Kumar delivered. Carrying forward his blazing start to ODI cricket, Milind brought the much needed calm to the crease. He punched Kushal Bhurtel for a couple of boundaries early on, but USA wobbled again when Shayan Jahangir holed out trying to accelerate, leaving USA 171 for 5. Debutant Shubham Ranjane joined Milind and the two wrestled back the momentum with a vital 56-run stand for the sixth wicket. Ranjane played the supporting act while Milind improvised with finesse, by employing deft touches as well as cutting loose with his power game with equal versatility.

With two overs to go, Harmeet Singh joined Milind and the pair provided a late surge. Harmeet launched a couple of sixes before Milind finished the innings in style, clearing the ropes himself to remain unbeaten on a brilliant 70, an innings that held USA together and lifted them to a competitive total.

Debutant Rushil Ugarkar, still riding the high of his last-over heroics that sealed MI New York's MLC title, made an instant impact in international cricket. He struck with just his second delivery, removing the dangerous Bhurtel for a duck, feathering an outside edge through to Smit to give USA the perfect start. At the other end, Saurabh Netravalkar kept Nepal tied down with a relentless fourth-stump discipline, forcing Aasif Sheikh and Bhim Sharki into survival mode during the PowerPlay. Jasdeep Singh drew an outside edge from Aasif, but Gous shelled a straightforward catch at first-slip. Aasif rubbed salt into the wound, caressing Jasdeep through point a couple of balls later.

Sharki then tried to break free, clobbering Ugarkar for a four and a six in successive in the same over, but his counterattack remained brief. Ranjane bowled Sharki through the gate in the next over. Harmeet picked up the first of his six wickets of the game in the next over, removing the scratchy Aasif, who miscued a lofted stroke to long-off to end his laboured stay. Ranjane couldn't seem to do anything wrong on debut as he struck again by dismissing Nepal captain Rohit Paudel, who tamely flicked a ball straight to fine leg. At 68 for 4, Nepal's chase looked uncertain.

Moments of resistance from Nepal remained brief. A brilliant direct hit from substitute fielder Nosthush Kenjige caught Aarif short of his ground, further derailing Nepal's innings. And then came the Harmeet demolition. Returning for his second spell, Harmeet ripped through the Nepal innings. He first induced a faint edge from Jha, who swung wildly across the line. He then outfoxed Kami, drawing a leading edge for a simple return catch. Harmeet wiped out the tail within no time, dismissing Karan and Lamichhane off consecutive deliveries.

Dipendra Singh Airee tried to stall the inevitable momentarily but Harmeet remained on the cue. Spotting Airee's early charge down the wicket, he fired one wider and quicker, forcing a miss and leaving him stranded as Smit whipped off the bails, wrapping up a commanding USA win.