With momentum on its side, USA has the edge over over Namibia

admin — Sat, 14 Feb 2026 23:37:00 +0000

Namibia players train on the eve of the match against USA.
| Photo Credit: R. Ragu

If there is one key takeaway from the ongoing T20 World Cup, it is that most associate nations have come not merely to participate, but to compete.

Their approach against established teams has added fresh energy to the tournament, and two such sides — the United States of America and Namibia — will square off in a Group-A encounter on Sunday (February 15, 2026). The USA heads into the contest with momentum and the advantage of being familiar with the conditions, having thumped the Netherlands by 93 runs in Chennai on Friday (February 13, 2026).

Skipper Monank Patel will have to improve by leaps and bounds at the top, while No. 3 Saiteja Mukkamalla provided much-needed stability and fluency in the previous game. The middle-order has relied on Shubham Ranjane to add crucial runs at critical moments.

With the ball, medium-pacer Shadley van Schalkwyk (11 wickets) has led the attack effectively with a change of pace and variations. Add the left-arm spin of Harmeet Singh, the combination could prove particularly useful on the traditionally spin-friendly Chepauk surface.

The USA head coach, Pubudu Dassanayake, expressed confidence, highlighting his team’s hunger and belief. “The boys are determined. We knew we had the strength to compete. We are hungry. I think we showed what we’re capable of. As a team, we just have to prove it on the field,” said Dassanayake.

“The game against the Netherlands was a message to everyone about how far ahead we are compared to the rest of the associate nations. This team deserves to play more against full-member countries. I’m really pleased with the group,” Dassanayake added.

He felt that familiarity with the conditions could be a potential advantage. “We had a great practice session under lights. Overall, I believe we’re slightly ahead of Namibia in terms of adapting to these conditions.”

Namibia, however, are unlikely to be overawed as Sunday’s (February 15, 2026) clash promises to be a battle between two ambitious associate teams determined to make their mark on the global stage.

Published – February 15, 2026 05:07 am IST

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England faces Sri Lanka in a must-win game for both

admin — Thu, 26 Oct 2023 05:21:44 +0000

England’s Jos Buttler and Moeen Ali, during a practice session ahead of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup match between Sri Lanka and England, at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium (KSCA), in Bengaluru on October 25, 2023.
| Photo Credit: MURALI KUMAR K

In the football World Cup, there are rungs of respectability for teams exiting the competition. You can suffer the ignominy of going out in the group-stage, the round-of-32, the round-of-16; or you can have the tags of an honourable quarterfinalist, a worthy semifinalist or a deserved finalist attached to your name.

Cricket World Cup, in contrast, is a boom or bust tournament. The difference between teams finishing fourth and fifth is a semifinal place and a group-stage ouster. On Thursday, at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Sri Lanka and England will clash with the singular aim keeping alive their hopes of the former.

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Both Sri Lanka and England have lost three of their four matches thus far and sit seventh and eighth respectively in a 10-team World Cup. Keeping in mind the fact that they are yet to face table-topper India, neither can afford a loss.

England has to recover from a 229-run shellacking at the hands of South Africa. Its batting hasn’t clicked, skipper Jos Buttler has totalled less than 100 runs in four games and the bowling has been mauled by South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan alike. The feeling may well be that England can only go up from here, but it cannot take Sri Lanka lightly.

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The Island Nation hasn’t lost to England in any of the four World Cup games since the turn of the millennium. Last week’s five-wicket victory over the Netherlands may not be ideal preparation for Sri Lanka, but it would have certainly banished the bad memories from three chastening defeats.

The last time England visited the Chinnaswamy for ODIs back in 2011, it lost a match after scoring 327 (Ireland) and tied a match by scoring 338 (India). This World Cup, Sri Lanka has conceded 428 and 345-run totals. Another run fest looks likely and England would finally want to finish on the right side of it.

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match preview – Artifex.News

With momentum on its side, USA has the edge over over Namibia

England faces Sri Lanka in a must-win game for both

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Proud record