Oman defeat U.S. in ICC WCL Division 3
After electing to field first, Oman did well to restrict the U.S. team to180 for seven in 43 overs before chasing the target in 39.4 overs, scoring 184 for the loss of six wickets
MUSCAT: Aaqib Ilyas played a key role as Oman began their campaign with a well-deserved four-wicket victory over the United States of America (U.S.) in the ICC World Cricket League (WCL) Division 3 competition in Uganda on Tuesday.
According to information received here, Oman captain Sultan Ahmed won the toss and elected to field first in a rain-hit match that was reduced to 43 overs.
The Sultanate squad did well to restrict the U.S. team to 180 for seven in 43 overs before achieving their target in 39.4 overs, scoring 184 for the loss of six wickets.
For the U.S. team, Ibrahim Khaleel with 48 runs was the top scorer while Sagar Patel and Alex Amsterdam contributed 36 and 25 runs respectively.
Though Khawar Ali with three for 27 was the highest wicket-taker, what restricted the U.S. team was the variety of Oman, who used as many as eight bowlers during the innings. Pace bowlers Bilal Khan, Munis Ansari and Mohammed Nadeem and left-arm spinner Ajay Lalcheta equally shared the other four American wickets to fall.
Shaky start
Oman made a shaky start to their chase losing Khawar Ali (5) with just 14 runs on the board. Then his fellow opening batsman Ajay Lalcheta (7) departed in the eight over with total reading 41. In walked young Aaqib Ilyas and took the fight to the opposition scoring a flurry of boundaries. Then in the company of equally aggressive Zeeshan Maqsood put Oman on the path of victory.
While Aaqib smashed two sixes and eight fours in his 36-ball 55, Zeeshan hit two sixes and three fours in his 70-ball 46.