The United States achieved a resounding victory against Oman in their ICC CWC League 2 match at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground, thanks to a remarkable all-round display from Milind Kumar and an outstanding bowling performance by Nosthush Kenjige.
After winning the toss, Oman chose to field first—a choice that initially paid off. The USA’s innings got off to a poor start when opener Smit Patel was dismissed without scoring in the first over by Shakeel Ahmed. Andries Gous and Harmeet Singh followed suit shortly thereafter, leaving the USA in a precarious position at 25 for 3 within the first nine overs.
The middle-order did not fare much better, with captain Monank Patel and Saiteja Mukkamalla also falling cheaply, plunging the side into deeper trouble at 31 for 5. However, Milind Kumar stepped up as the backbone of the innings, scoring a determined 47 off 82 deliveries. He received some backing from Aaron Jones (16) and Sanjay Krishnamurthi (16), but wickets continued to fall around him. Consequently, the USA could only muster a modest 122 runs in 35.3 overs.
Oman’s bowling was led by Shakeel Ahmed, who recorded impressive figures of 3 for 20 in his 8.3 overs. Aamir Kaleem and Samay Shrivastav contributed with two wickets each, while Jay Odedra and Siddharth Bukkapatnam added one wicket each to the tally.
In pursuit of a target of 123, Oman got off to a horrific start as the USA’s bowlers wreaked havoc. Milind Kumar struck early, dismissing Omani captain Jatinder Singh for just 7 runs. Aamir Kaleem soon followed, falling victim to Harmeet Singh. The only significant contribution came from Hammad Mirza, who managed a fighting 29 off 43 balls. Nevertheless, he received little assistance from the rest of the batting lineup as wickets continued to fall at regular intervals.
The standout bowler was Nosthush Kenjige, who dismantled the Omani batting order with a five-wicket haul, giving away just 11 runs in his 7.3 overs. His exceptional performance ensured that Oman was all out for a meager 65 runs in just 25.3 overs. Yasir Mohammad and Milind Kumar further strengthened the attack, each taking two wickets and ensuring the opposition’s batting lineup remained fragile.
The USA showcased a commanding performance, clinching a convincing 57-run victory, with Milind Kumar named Player of the Match for his contributions, scoring 47 runs and taking 2 for 17 with the ball.
Image Source: Milind Kumar @ Instagram
