NEW DELHI: The United States successfully defended the lowest-ever total of 122 in a non-curtailed ODI match, defeating Oman by 57 runs in their Cricket World Cup League 2 encounter.
This total stands as one of the lowest successfully defended scores in men’s ODIs, excluding matches with a revised target or reduced overs.
In conditions heavily favoring spin bowling, Nosthush Kenjige‘s metronomic left-arm spin led the American charge, claiming an impressive 5/11 from 7.3 overs to dismiss Oman for a paltry 65.
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Milind Kumar’s off-spin (2/17) claimed the crucial wicket of Oman captain Jatinder Singh (7), while Harmeet Singh (1/25) and Yasir Mohammed (2/10) complemented Kenjige’s efforts.
The surface at the Oman Cricket Academy, which had shown more pace in previous years, particularly during the 2021 T20 World Cup, has favored slower bowlers in the recent ODI tri-series, which forms part of the Cricket World Cup 2027 qualification process.
Notably, not a single over of pace was bowled in the match, with Oman’s five-pronged spin attack matched by the USA’s Milind Kumar, Harmeet Singh, Yasir Mohammad, and Kenjige.
After electing to bowl first, hoping to emulate their spin success against Namibia two days prior, Oman’s bowlers stifled the USA’s batting lineup, with skipper Monank Patel (0) being one of five batters to fall inside the first 13 overs.
Aaron Jones (16) and Sanjay Krishnamurthi (16) put up a fight, but it was Milind (47*) who carried the innings, hitting six boundaries to push the score past three figures.
The Americans were bowled out for 122 in 35.3 overs, with Shakeel Ahmad’s 3/20 being the best figures for Oman.
However, their spin quartet’s efforts overshadowed the hosts’ bowling performance, as the USA successfully defended their low total, dismissing Oman for 65, their lowest score in men’s international cricket.
