India have qualified for the Super Eight stage of the T20 World Cup with a seven-wicket win over the United States, a fifty by Suryakumar Yadav and Arshdeep Singh’s four-wicket haul helping them clinch their third win in a row.

Put in to bat the Americans struggled against well-targeted short-pitched bowling on the now notoriously tricky Long Island surface.

Arshdeep (4-9) dismissed Shayan Jahangir (0) and Andries Gous (2) in the first over and Hardik Pandya (2-14) added the wicket of Aaron Jones as the USA struggled to 3-25 in the eighth over.

Steven Taylor (24) and Nitish Kumar (27) led a recovery that helped the co-hosts reach 8-110, respectable on this wicket, but unlikely to be competitive against the powerful Indian batting line-up.

However, India also struggled at the start, with Saurabh Netravalkar sending openers Virat Kohli (0) and Rohit Sharma (3) back early. Kohli now has five runs in three innings this World Cup and faced just nine balls.

When Risbabh Pant (18) followed to leave ndia 3-39 midway through the eighth over the USA dared to dream of repeating their shock defeat of Pakistan.

But Yadav (50 not out) and Shivam Dube (31 not out) steadied the innings and, accelerating sharply at the end, took India to victory with 10 balls to spare.

They were aided by a five-run penalty after the Americans thrice took more than 60 seconds to be ready to start an over.

The USA will nevertheless also ensure qualification for the next round if they beat Ireland on Friday.

Meanwhile, Josh Hazlewood saying it would be in Australia’s “best interests” for England to exit the Twenty20 World Cup as early as possible has been greeted with a response from their Australian head coach Matthew Mott, who believes the inflammatory comments were the result of “a very good sense of humour”.

The defending champions are sweating on a place in the next phase of the tournament after a washout against Scotland was followed by a 36-run defeat to the Aussies in Group B. 

Scotland’s subsequent heavy win over Oman means England can only qualify for the Super 8 on net run-rate – which leaves their fate in the hands of Australia. 

England must beat Oman on Thursday and Namibia on Saturday, but if Jos Buttler’s team are able to do that all eyes will be on the final Group B fixture between Scotland and Australia. 

The St Lucia match will begin hours after England’s clash with Namibia finishes, giving the Aussies enough time to work out exactly what margin of victory for them would ensure they top the group but also allow Scotland to progress as runners-up. 

“In this tournament, you potentially come up against England at some stage again – and they’re probably one of the top few teams on their day,” Hazlewood, who claimed 2-18 as Namibia were dismissed for 72 on Wednesday, said. 

“We’ve had some real struggles against them in T20 cricket, so if we can get them out of the tournament, that’s in our best interests, as well as probably everyone else’s. 

“Whether we have discussions or not (over tactics to block England’s progress), or we just try and play again the way we played tonight, that will be up to (other) people, not me.” 

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Hazlewood floated the idea that Australia could “knock it around and drag it out” giving an artificial boost to Scotlands’ net run-rate and moving England towards the exit door but Mott, who coached the pacer at New South Wales, put those comments down to mischief rather than malevolence.

“I think I know Josh pretty well and I know his integrity. He’s got a very good sense of humour,” he said.

“I am hoping it was very much tongue in cheek. I actually don’t think it is ever going to play out. Having grown up in Australia, and the will to win every game, I am sure they will come to the fore. I am very much hoping it was an off hand remark by a really good bloke who is having fun.”

Clause 2.11 of the International Cricket Council’s code of conduct specifically mentions “inappropriate manipulation of a net run-rate” for “strategic or tactical reasons”.

As captain, Mitch Marsh, would be liable for any such offence and be liable for two suspension points – effectively a two-match ban in white-ball cricket.

While it is hard to be sure how to satisfy the burden of proof when asking due care and attention in a run chase becomes a deliberate go slow, Hazlewood’s indiscretion will have alerted match referee Jeff Crowe.