In a nail-biting second T20I at Al Amerat Cricket Ground, the USA clinched a hard-earned four-wicket victory over Oman, successfully chasing down a target of 142 with just three balls remaining. Captain Monank Patel was instrumental in the win, scoring a composed 73 not out, which enabled his team to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
Choosing to bat first, Oman began their innings steadily, highlighted by Jatinder Singh’s fluent 57 off 41 deliveries. He received support from Aamir Kaleem, who added 27 runs off 22 balls; however, the remaining batters found it difficult to maintain the tempo.
USA’s bowlers effectively restricted the scoring, with Ali Khan standing out by taking 3 wickets for 23 runs in his four overs. He dismissed Aamir Kaleem early on and later returned to remove Hammad Mirza and Jiten Ramanandi, which severely impacted Oman’s middle order.
Ali Sheikh and Sanjay Krishnamurthi contributed with two wickets each, while Juanoy Drysdale captured essential wickets during the death overs. Oman managed to finish their innings at 141/9 in 20 overs, which was a subpar total given the favorable batting conditions.
As they pursued 142, USA faced an alarming start. Opener Steven Taylor was out for a duck in the first over, and both Saiteja Mukkamalla and Milind Kumar followed shortly after, leaving the visitors struggling at 7/3 within the powerplay.
Under significant pressure, Monank Patel stepped up with a captaincy performance, stabilizing the innings with a pivotal partnership alongside Sanjay Krishnamurthi. Patel efficiently rotated the strike and capitalized on loose balls, scoring seven boundaries and two sixes in his unbeaten 73 off 53 deliveries.
Krishnamurthi contributed with 23 runs off 20 balls, while Aaron Jones helped ease the chase with an important 35 runs off 30 balls, striking some key shots. Even as wickets fell at important moments, Patel’s calm demeanor guided the USA to victory with a boundary in the second to last over.
Oman’s bowlers displayed commendable effort in defending the modest target. Shakeel Ahmed excelled with the new ball, taking 2 wickets for just 15 runs in four overs, while Muhammed Imran kept Oman in contention with his figures of 3/23. Yet, their collective efforts were insufficient to halt Patel’s determined chase.
Monank Patel was rightfully awarded Player of the Match for his crucial knock under pressure, ensuring that the USA completed the chase successfully with three balls remaining and secured the series victory.
Image Source: Monank Patel @ Instagram
