T20 World Cup 2026: Mukkamalla, bowlers lead USA to thumping victory over Netherlands

Chepauk during a night match is like a riddle. Add humidity, lights, and dew. Then introduce two teams still rewriting cricket’s atlas – the USA and the Netherlands – and stand back. Because here, even giants wobble. So, why shouldn’t the newcomers dare?

Friday’s Group-A match in the ongoing T20 World Cup, became a study in adjustment – of pace, of shot selection, of nerve. USA adjusted faster. The scoreboard followed. Netherlands was beaten by 93 runs.

Netherlands won the toss, chose to bowl, and then immediately learned that dew does not respect decisions – only timing. Saiteja Mukkamalla batted like he’d found the cheat code to the night and kept showing it, stroke by stroke.

The Dutch tried spin first, because Chepauk. They tried pace next, because logic. But Mukkamalla ensured that the match would orbit his bat rather than the pitch. While Shayan Jahangir briefly auditioned for the role of Chaos with a pair of pulls into the stands, and Monank Patel explored the aerial flick, Mukkamalla settled in as the author of the innings. Not frantic, not flustered – just alert, like someone who knew the plot twist before it happened.

Fred Klaassen arrived and was immediately greeted with a straight six, a statement stripped of ornament. Roelof van der Merwe was aerially driven straight and inside-out, Bas de Leede’s slower balls were waited on like late trains for delicate cuts, and Kyle Klein produced the delivery that brought up the 30-ball fifty: Mukkamalla down on one knee, lofting over deep cover as if the ball had personally asked to be helped on its way.

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The dew set in, the ball slid, and plans scuttled. When Mukkamalla finally holed out for 79 (51b, 5×4, 4×6), USA was 148 for three after 15 overs, and Netherlands were already left chasing for answers in Chepauk’s humidity.

It never seemed to find answers with the bat either, getting bowled out for 103. Harmeet Singh (four for 21) and Shadley van Schalkwyk (three for 21) starred with the ball for USA. 

Published on Feb 13, 2026