Oman defeated Namibia by two wickets in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2, avenging an earlier loss. This victory elevates Oman to second place in the standings. The spinners dominated the match, leading to Namibia’s total of 96 runs. Oman chased down the target, with Aamir Kaleem named player of the match. They will face the USA next.
Oman secured a hard-fought two-wicket victory against Namibia in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 tri-series held at the Oman Cricket Academy ground in Al Amerat. This win avenged their prior loss to Namibia and elevated Oman to second place in the standings with 18 points from 15 matches, closely following the USA’s lead with 20 points. Canada currently occupies third with 16 points from 12 matches.
Opting to bat first, Namibia faced early troubles, collapsing to 19 for 4 in just 10 overs. Oman’s spinners, particularly Shakeel Ahmed, proved to be the decisive factor, who delivered an impressive performance by taking 4 wickets for 25 runs. His contribution bolstered his previous strong showing against the USA, where he also took four wickets.
Jay Odedra initiated the attack by dismissing Zane Green (6) and shortly afterward JP Kotze (1). Shakeel Ahmed continued the onslaught, claiming the middle-order batsman Jan Frylinck for 9 runs and later knocking down Jan-Izak de Villiers for just 1 run. A brief recovery came through Namibia’s captain Gerhard Erasmus and Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, who formed a 35-run partnership.
However, Aamir Kaleem’s pivotal wicket of Erasmus marked the beginning of the end for Namibia, who was ultimately bowled out for a mere 96 runs within 33.1 overs. Every wicket fell to spin with contributions from Siddharth Bukkapatnam and leg-spinner Samay Shrivastava also securing scalps.
Chasing 97 runs, Oman commenced their innings strongly, establishing a 42-run opening partnership between skipper Jatinder Singh and Aamir Kaleem. Unfortunately, a sudden collapse occurred after Kaleem’s dismissal, with Oman plummeting from 42 for 1 to 87 for 8, primarily due to Gerhard Erasmus’s excellent bowling performance.
Vinayak Shukla played a vital role, delivering an impactful 18 runs that eased some pressure. Despite the subsequent fall of wickets, Hashir Dafedar and Siddharth Bukkapatnam anchored the innings, ensuring Oman’s successful chase. Dafedar’s boundary with six runs required and four byes closed the match at 100 for 8 in 22.4 overs.
Aamir Kaleem’s all-round performance earned him the player of the match recognition. Oman is scheduled to face the USA in the final match of the tri-series, where a victory would position them at the top of the standings, following their previous triumph over the USA by seven wickets.
Oman’s crucial victory over Namibia in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 not only avenged a prior defeat but also propelled them to second place in the league standings. The team’s strong reliance on spinners proved to be decisive, ultimately leading to a successful chase. With their upcoming match against the USA, the team aims to secure the top position in the league with an additional victory.
Original Source: timesofoman.com
