Team USA fell to a 6 wicket defeat on the opening day of ICC World Cricket League Division 2 in Windhoek, Namibia. After winning the toss Oman’s bowlers laid down an early marker at United Cricket Club Ground as they choked up the United States of America batsmen from the off.
USA dangerman Xavier Marshall was incredibly unlucky to be run out backing up by Bilal Khan for just 8, while Fayyaz Butt was the pick of bowlers as he ended with figures of 3/23 from eight overs.
Jaskaran Malhotra bravely recovered from a nasty blow to the helmet that required a hospital visit to return and continue his innings and even keep wicket in the second innings, but even though Roy Silva bludgeoned a quickfire 33 from 23 balls, which included a pair of sixes, the United States were still dismissed for 148 from 37.5 overs.
Oman were in early trouble in response as Ali Khan (4/27) dismissed all of the Asian side’s top three batsmen in a scintillating spell of fast bowling to leave them languishing at 17 for three.
But Oman’s skipper Zeeshan Maqsood (28 from 49 balls) and Mohammad Nadeem (55 not out) steadied the ship and even once Khan had Maqsood caught behind, Suraj Kumar (50 not out) continued his captain’s good work.
And that duo calmly got Oman over the line with 13 balls remaining and six wickets in hand, ahead of a match against another North American side – Canada – on Sunday.
Oman Coach, Duleep Mendis said: “There were two really good partnerships and with those partnerships we were able to get the total. I was very happy with the way that we bowled, we managed to restrict them very well and won the match at the end.”
Scores in brief:
Namibia vs PNG
Namibia won by three wickets at Wanderers Cricket Ground, Windhoek
Papua New Guinea 118 all out, 42.1 overs (Chad Soper 36; Jan Frylinck 3/16, Craig Williams 3/25, JJ Smit 3/34)
Namibia 120/7, 30.3 overs (Jan Frylinck 23 not out, JJ Smit 19 not out; Charles Amini 3/46)
Hong Kong won by seven wickets at Affies Park, Windhoek
Canada 222/8, 50 overs (Davy Jacobs 52 not out, Srimantha Wijeyeratne 44; Kinchit Shah 4/32)
Hong Kong 223/3, 47.2 overs (Anshuman Rath 114 not out, Jamie Atkinson 35; Nikhil Dutta 2/30)
USA vs Oman
Oman won by six wickets at United Cricket Club Ground, Windhoek
USA 148 all out, 37.5 overs (Roy Silva 33, Monank Patel 25; Fayyaz Butt 3/23, Zeeshan Maqsood 2/24)
Oman 152/4, 47.5 overs (Mohammad Nadeem 55 not out, Suraj Kumar 50 not out; Ali Khan 4/27)
| Team | Played | Won | Lost | Points |
| Hong Kong | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Namibia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Oman | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Canada | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| PNG | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| USA | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
UPCOMING TOURNAMENT MATCHES
Sunday, 21 April – Namibia v USA, Wanderers; Canada v Oman, WAP; PNG v Hong Kong, Trustco UNITED
Monday, 22 April – Rest/Reserve Day
Tuesday, 23 April – Hong Kong v Oman, Wanderers; PNG v USA, WAP; Namibia v Canada, Trustco UNITED
Wednesday, 24 April – PNG v Canada, Wanderers; Namibia v Oman, WAP; Hong Kong v USA, Trustco UNITED
Thursday, 25 April – Rest/Reserve Day
Friday, 26 April – Canada v USA, Wanderers; Namibia v Hong Kong, WAP; PNG v Oman, Trustco UNITED
Saturday, 27 April – Final, Wanderers (ODI); 3rd v 4th Playoff (ODI), WAP; 5th v 6th Playoff, Trustco UNITED
All matches start at 09h30 local time.
