In a historic match on February 18, the USA defended the lowest total ever in men’s ODIs, successfully defending 122 runs against Oman in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2. This feat broke India’s 40-year-old record of defending 125 runs against Pakistan in the 1985 Rothmans Four-Nation Cup.
Batting first in match 54 of the tournament, USA struggled on a challenging pitch and posted just 122 runs. Oman, in response, collapsed for a mere 65, failing to handle the spin-friendly conditions. In a rare statistical feat, all 19 wickets in the match fell to spinners, equalling the record for the most wickets taken by spinners in an ODI. Additionally, all nine bowlers used in the match were spinners, making it the first men’s ODI to be completed without a single over from a fast bowler.
Nosthush Kenjige led USA’s bowling attack with a stunning spell, taking 5 for 11 in 7.3 overs, playing a crucial role in defending the low total. Milind Kumar also shone, scoring an unbeaten 47 to push USA past 100 before contributing with the ball by taking two wickets. His all-round performance was instrumental in USA’s remarkable victory under Monank Patel’s leadership.
For Oman, Hammad Mirza was the lone fighter, scoring 29 off 43, the only double-digit score for his team. Earlier, Shakeel Ahmed had dominated with the ball, dismantling USA’s top order with figures of 3 for 20 in 8.3 overs.
This historic win not only rewrote record books but also showcased USA’s growing stature in international cricket.
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