Sai Teja powers USA past Netherlands in Chennai
Hyderabad: Telugu-origin cricketer Sai Teja struck 79 as the United States defeated the Netherlands by 93 runs in a T20 World Cup Group A match on Friday.
Representing the USA, Sai Teja played a 51-ball knock studded with clean hits to anchor the innings. The United States posted 196 for eight after opting to bat.
Shubham Ranjane remained unbeaten on 48, while captain Monank Patel made 36. Bas de Leede took three for 37 for the Netherlands.
Harmeet leads bowling collapse
Chasing 197, the Netherlands were bowled out for 103 in 15.5 overs. Harmeet Singh claimed four for 21, while Saurabh Netravalkar returned three for 21 and Mohammad Mohsin picked up two for 19.
Bas de Leede scored 28 and Scott Edwards made 20, but the rest of the batting line-up failed to offer resistance.
This was USA’s first win in three matches. The Netherlands have now won one and lost two from three games.
American cricket sees Telugu spark
Sai Teja Mukkamalla, 25, has emerged as a key batter for the USA. He has represented the national side for four years and has played 37 One-Day Internationals and 19 T20 Internationals.
In ODIs, he has scored 1,255 runs at an average of 39.21, including three centuries and seven half-centuries. In T20Is, he has 841 runs at 40.06, with one century and five half-centuries.
Born and raised in New Jersey, Sai Teja is the son of Nageswara Reddy and Lakshmi. Originally from Kamalapuri village in Sanjamala mandal of Nandyal district, Andhra Pradesh, his father moved to the United States nearly three decades ago as a software engineer.
Sai Teja began training at the Dream Cricket Academy in New Jersey under coach Art Delly and later trained under former India cricketer Ashok Patel. He also spent time at the VVS Laxman Academy in Hyderabad.
Before the tournament, he trained for two weeks at the Chennai Super Kings camp, experience that aided his performance against the Netherlands.
