Namibia were 140/4 after 17 overs, still needing 60 from 18 balls.

After Shadley van Schalkwyk and Saurabh Netravalkar accounted for Jan Frylinck and Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, Shubham Ranjane got rid of Louren Steenkamp (58 off 39) to put Namibia on the backfoot.

Van Schalkwyk then returned to send back Gerhard Erasmus as Shayan Jahangir took a stunning one-handed diving catch to dismiss the Namibian skipper.

Erasmus departed after scoring 6 off 10.

JJ Smit (12 off 11) and Zane Green (12 off 10) are at the crease.

Steenkamp's opening partner Frylinck was caught and bowled by van Schalkwyk in the sixth over after Namibia got off to a solid start at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.

Frylinck departed for a 15-ball 19 studded with a boundary and a six each.

After picking a boundary in the first over, Steenkamp upped the ante in the third over by hoisting Saurabh Netravalkar over mid-wicket for a six.

Van Schalkwyk, however, kept a tight leash on Namibia openers by conceding just four runs in the fourth over.

Sanjay, Monank guide USA to 199/4

USA skipper Monank Patel shrugged off a string of modest scores to craft a fluent half-century, while Sanjay Krishnamurthi struck a commanding unbeaten fifty of his own, as they posted a competitive 199/4.

Opening the innings, Monank played with fluency and intent, bringing up an entertaining 52 off 30 balls, studded with three boundaries and as many sixes.

Krishnamurthi (68 not out off 33 balls) and Milind Kumar (28 off 20 balls) then played solidly in the middle order crafting an 87-run stand for the fourth wicket to give the team a competitive total.

For Namibia, leg-spinner Willem Myburgh (2/22) and skipper Gerhard Erasmus (2/27) took two wickets each.

After USA lost three quick wickets, Sanjay went on a six-hitting spree, carting six maximums and four boundaries and added 87 off 46 balls for the fourth wicket in the company of Milind Kumar (28 off 20).

Earlier, Myburgh struck twice, sending back both openers as the USA lost their way after a brisk start.

Opting to bat first, USA begin their innings with positive intent, amassing 65/0 at the end of Powerplay.

Myburgh, bowling the seventh over, lured opener Shayan Jahangir into a big slog sweep with a fuller ball and induced a leading edge towards long-on where JJ Smit took a safe catch.

Jahangir departed for an 18-ball 22 with two boundaries and a six.

Myburgh then accounted for skipper Patel, who was also caught by Smit after he miscued one to long-off.

IMAGE: Sanjay Krishnamurthi hit six sixes and four boundaries in his 33-ball 68. Photograph: ICC/X

Monank departed after a stroke-filled 52 off 30 balls with three boundaries and sixes each. He brought up his fifty from 27 balls.

Skipper Gerhard Erasmus then got rid of Saiteja Mukkamalla (17 off 18) who gave an easy catch to Loftie-Eaton at long-on.

Patel and Jahangir picked up seven runs off the first over bowled by Ruben Trumpelmann before Smit conceded 11 in the second with Patel hitting him for a six over mid-wicket.

Max Heingo bowled the third over and gave away 12 runs as Jahangir hit him for a boundary and a six off consecutive balls.

Bernard Scholtz kept a tight line and conceded just five runs in the fourth over.

Earlier, USA won the toss and elected to bat first in the must-win game.

For USA, Saurabh Netravalkar returned to the playing XI, replacing Nosthush Kenjige.

Namibia made a couple of changes with Malan Kruger and Ben Shikongo making way for Dylan Leicher and Willem Myburgh.