'We Are No Walkovers,' Asserts USA's Harmeet Following Bangladesh Triumph
United States all-rounder Harmeet Singh declared that the team will not be walkovers at the T20 World Cup, following a significant upset over Bangladesh on Tuesday. The USA, ranked 19th in the T20 world rankings, will co-host next month's World Cup alongside the West Indies. They chased down a target of 154 for a five-wicket win in the first of four warm-up matches in Dallas.
Harmeet was named man of the match after teaming up with Corey Anderson to get the USA over the line with three balls to play, smashing 33 runs off 13 deliveries. Speaking after the win, Harmeet said the USA had sent out a message ahead of their home campaign, which begins against Canada on June 2.
"You don't always get an opportunity to win a game against a big side like this every day," Harmeet said. "The way the boys have been training, it is a personal effort from everybody. It means a lot to us to put on a show against Bangladesh. We are no walkovers. I think our potential is immense. We have a lot of match-winners in the team. It gives us the edge. We bat as well now."
Harmeet also mentioned that he had told his teammates before the game that Bangladesh are a good team on paper, but if they went down without a fight, it wouldn't send a good message.
Harmeet also thought Bangladesh may have taken their hosts lightly, particularly when choosing the wrong end for Mustafizur Rahman to bowl from and giving the USA's batters the advantage of high winds against other bowlers. Mustafizur conceded 32 runs within the space of two overs before changing ends.
"When I saw him bowl from the other end, with the wind, I thought we had a chance to sneak in a 20-run over from the other side," Harmeet said. "I think either they took us lightly or I don't know, they didn't have bowlers to bowl with from the other side."
A performance by Harmeet Singh that earned him the Man of the Match title today in the first T20i against Bangladesh!
#USAvBAN #WeAreUSACricket pic.twitter.com/KH3CLJK51M— USA Cricket (@usacricket) May 21, 2024
The USA's victory over Bangladesh serves as a significant morale booster as they prepare for their World Cup campaign. The team's performance indicates their readiness to compete at higher levels and challenge more established cricketing nations.
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