The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 match between the United States of America and Nepal at Grand Prairie Stadium, Dallas, was a tightly contested 50-over affair on Nov. 2, 2024. Nepal won the toss and elected to field first, hoping to capitalize on early conditions. However, the USA put up a strong batting performance, scoring a competitive total of 281/8 in their allotted 50 overs.
The USA innings began with Shayan Jahangir, who fell for 10 runs off 24 balls, caught and bowled by Gulsan Jha. USA’s captain Monank Patel played a steady innings, scoring 67 runs from 81 deliveries, hitting five fours and one six. Aaron Jones added quick runs, smashing 26 off 20 balls at an impressive strike rate of 130 before being caught by substitute fielder R Dhakal off the bowling of Sandeep Lamichhane. The standout performance came from Saiteja Mukkamalla, who contributed a crucial 75 off 87 balls, including four boundaries and one six. His partnership with Monank Patel set a solid foundation, allowing the USA to build towards a significant total.
In the latter part of the innings, Harmeet Singh played an explosive knock, scoring 59 off just 44 balls, featuring three fours and three sixes. This quickfire innings helped boost the USA’s run rate, enabling them to reach 281/8 by the end of their innings. Other notable contributions included Sanjay Krishnamurthi’s 15 runs and Utkarsh Srivastava’s 8 runs, though they were dismissed before they could convert into bigger scores. Gulsan Jha was the pick of the Nepal bowlers, taking 3 wickets for 87 runs in his 10 overs, while Sandeep Lamichhane provided a more economical option, claiming 2 wickets for 48 runs.
Chasing a target of 282, Nepal had a challenging task ahead. They lost an early wicket, with Aasif Sheikh bowled by Jasdeep Singh for just 6 runs. Anil Sah anchored the innings with a well-fought 52 off 80 balls, but the USA bowlers kept up the pressure. Kushal Bhurtel and Kushal Malla attempted to stabilize the innings, scoring 29 and 33 respectively, but their strike rates were restricted due to the tight bowling.
The USA’s Saurabh Netravalkar emerged as the game-changer, taking 4 wickets for 47 runs in his 9.5 overs. His accuracy and ability to claim key wickets at crucial moments earned him the title of Player of the Match. Netravalkar dismissed key players such as Aarif Sheikh and Dipendra Singh Airee, who were looking to accelerate the scoring. Sompal Kami, however, displayed resilience with a rapid 46 off 27 balls, striking four boundaries and two sixes to bring Nepal within striking distance. But the USA bowlers managed to contain the rest of the batting lineup, ultimately bowling out Nepal for 244 runs in 49.5 overs, sealing a 37-run victory.
Jasdeep Singh and Shadley van Schalkwyk provided crucial support, each taking a wicket at critical points in the match. With this victory, the USA showcased a well-rounded performance in both batting and bowling, successfully defending a challenging total in this ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 encounter.