Monank Patel’s Masterclass Seals USA’s T20I Series Win Over Oman
In a tense second T20I at Al Amerat Cricket Ground, the USA secured a hard-fought four-wicket victory over Oman, chasing down 142 with just three balls to spare. Captain Monank Patel led from the front with a composed and match-winning 73 not out, ensuring his team took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
Opting to bat first, Oman’s innings got off to a steady start, thanks to Jatinder Singh’s fluent 57 off 41 balls. He found support from Aamir Kaleem, who contributed 27 off 22, but the rest of the batting order struggled to keep up the momentum.
USA’s bowlers kept a tight grip on the scoring rate, with Ali Khan being the pick of the attack, claiming 3/23 in his four overs. He removed Aamir Kaleem early and later returned to dismiss Hammad Mirza and Jiten Ramanandi, breaking Oman’s middle order.
Ali Sheikh and Sanjay Krishnamurthi chipped in with two wickets each, while Juanoy Drysdale picked up crucial scalps in the death overs. Oman eventually crawled to 141/9 in their 20 overs, a below-par total considering the batting-friendly conditions.
Chasing 142, USA got off to a disastrous start. Opener Steven Taylor was dismissed for a duck in the very first over, while Saiteja Mukkamalla and Milind Kumar followed soon after, leaving the visitors reeling at 7/3 inside the powerplay.
With the pressure mounting, Monank Patel played a captain’s knock, steadying the innings with a crucial partnership alongside Sanjay Krishnamurthi. Patel rotated the strike efficiently and punished the loose deliveries, hitting seven boundaries and two sixes in his unbeaten 73 off 53 balls.
Krishnamurthi (23 off 20) and Aaron Jones (35 off 30) provided valuable support, with the latter playing some well-timed shots to ease the chase. Even as wickets fell at crucial junctures, Patel remained composed, guiding USA to victory with a boundary in the penultimate over.
Oman’s bowlers put up a valiant effort to defend the modest total. Shakeel Ahmed was outstanding with the new ball, picking up 2/15 in four overs, while Muhammed Imran kept the contest alive with 3/23. However, their efforts were not enough to stop Patel’s determined chase.
For his match-winning knock under pressure, Monank Patel was deservedly named Player of the Match. His innings ensured that USA successfully chased down the target with three balls to spare, sealing the series victory.
