Former India Under-19 spinner Harmeet Singh returned figures of 6-27 for the USA during a Cricket World Cup League 2 ODI against Nepal in Dubai on Sunday (October 26).
Batting first, USA posted 262-6. They were given a solid platform by opener Smit Patel, who scored a 100-ball 75. But they collapsed from 143-2 to 171-5. Milind Kumar and Harmeet Singh provided a late innings impetus. Milind finished on 70 not out from 50 balls (including six fours and two sixes), while Harmeet provided the final flourish with 16 not out off just six deliveries, hitting two sixes.
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Defending the total, USA got a breakthrough off the second ball when Rushil Ugarkar, on debut, dismissed Kushal Bhurtel for a duck. Then, buoyed by the late cameo, Harmeet rose to the occasion with the ball, claiming a six-wicket haul. He wrapped up the Nepal innings by dismissing Dipendra Airee – one of their few sources of resistance – for 40, skittling the chasing team for 156 in 39.1 overs.
Match 86, Nepal vs USA
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- Ball by ball Over
Harmeet’s 6-27 is his maiden five-wicket haul in ODIs, eclipsing his previous best of 3-40 against Canada in May. These are also his best figures in professional cricket, surpassing his previous best of 6-110 taken in a Ranji Trophy match in 2020.
From U19 World Cup for India to T20 World Cup for USA
Born in Mumbai, Harmeet received high praise from Indian stalwart Dilip Sardesai, who drew parallels with Bishan Singh Bedi the first time he saw the youngster play. He featured in two Under-19 World Cups for India. In the 2010 edition, he played just one match, taking 1-48 at an economy rate of six. In the 2012 tournament, however, he played a starring role in India's title win, taking six wickets at an average of 20.16 and an exceptional economy rate of 3.02.
Having led Mumbai at the U16 and U19 levels, Harmeet made a fruitful first-class debut for them against Himachal Pradesh in 2009, taking match figures of 4-89 and 3-38 and played his last match for Mumbai in the 2015-16 season.
After representing Jammu and Kashmir for the 2016-17 season, he moved to Tripura, where he played for two domestic seasons (2018-19-2019-20).
His IPL experience consists of a single match for the Rajasthan Royals against the now-defunct Pune Warriors India in 2013.
Harmeet later relocated to the USA and represented the co-hosts during last year's T20 World Cup. So far, he has picked up 28 ODI wickets at an average of 24.75 and an economy rate of 4.04 from 19 matches. In 25 T20Is, he has taken 24 wickets at an average of 25.12, with an economy rate of 6.87.
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