Saturday 04 / May / 2024
Muscat: Oman suffered their first defeat in the ongoing ICC World Cricket League (WCL) Division 4 competition when they were handed a eight-wicket defeat by hosts the United States of America (USA) on Tuesday.
Oman, who had earlier defeated Jersey and Bermuda, got the going tough against the USA, for whom wrist spinner Timil Patel with five wickets and opening batsman Steven Taylor with an unbeaten century did the star turn in their third successive victory.
According to information posted on the International Cricket Council (ICC) website, Steven Taylor smashed an unbeaten 124 from 95 balls to power the USA to win over Oman.
At the Wright Cricket Field in Woodley Park, Los Angeles, Timil Patel picked up five wickets to justify USA’s decision to bowl first as their dismissed Oman for 163 in 49.2 overs. In response, Taylor took the attack to the opposition with seven sixes and 15 fours and guided USA to 165 for two from 29.3 overs.
Earlier in the day, it was Ali Khan’s opening spell, where he picked up two wickets, that opened the gates for USA. Patel, brought on in the 32nd over with Oman at a respectable 107 for four, wreaked havoc with his leg-spin, picking up five wickets in an unchanged spell. Patel finished with figures of five for 22 from nine overs.
Taylor, 22, then came out smashing and kept the tempo going despite losing a couple of partners. Taylor, dropped on 90, brought up his century off 87 balls with a boundary of Ajay Lalcheta.
Taylor and Alex Amsterdam were in the middle when USA completed victory and consigned Oman to its first loss in three games.
Bermuda down Denmark
Meanwhile, an inspired bowling performance from Jordan DeSilva, who claimed four wickets for 23 runs, guided Bermuda to a 38-run win over Denmark at the Wong Cricket Field in Woodley Park.
Asked to bat, Bermuda reached 221 for seven in 50 overs after clinical bowling efforts from Saif Ahmed (two for 45), Bashir Shah (two for 46) and Hamid Shah (two for 37).
In reply, Denmark, which had won back-to-back matches coming into this game, found Bermuda’s bowling too hot to handle as they were bowled out for 183 from 48.1 overs.
Bermuda had Oliver Pitcher (31 from 63 balls), Delray Rawlins (39 from 62 balls), Dion Stovell (38 from 52 balls) and DeSilva (33 not out from 38 balls) contribute, but the lack of big individual scores and consistent partnerships meant a modest but competitive total.
Denmark, which was on top of its batting game in the first two games, were waylaid in the run chase courtesy DeSilva’s left-arm pace early on. Cejay Outerbridge (two for 22) too played a massive role by picking up two top-order wickets in the one over, but it was Janeiro Tucker’s three-wicket burst that truly stamped Bermuda’s authority in the contest.
DeSilva then returned to bag a couple more, including the important one of Yasir Iqbal (39 from 43 balls) to bring an end to the contest.
Jesery beat Italy
Nat Watkins and Jonty Jenner hit half centuries and Corey Bisson’s smashed an unbeaten 42 as Jersey defeated Italy at the Seven Cricket Field in Woodley Park.
In reponse to Italy’s total of 235 all out from 49.5 overs, Jersey, who won the toss and opted to bowl, reached 236 for seven from 49.3 overs.
Coming into the game with two losses in as many games, Jersey was on the backfoot early as Italy posted a healthy total on the back of half centuries from Gian Meade (61 from 74 balls) and skipper Damian Crowley (58 from 57 balls).
Jersey’s bowling department was largely responsible for restricting Italy after a healthy show from the middle order. Rhys Palmer picked up three for 57 from 10 overs, while Charles Perchard (two for 30) and Watkins (two for 28) bagged two wickets apiece.
In response, Jersey got off to a shaky start but recovered through a 64-run second-wicket partnership between Watkins and Luke Gallichan. The run chase was helped along by a 75-run stand for the third wicket between Watkins (77 from 101 balls) and Jenner (65 from 77 balls).
Carl Sandri (3 for 49) and Crowley (2 for 50) combined to put Jersey in a spot of bother. Jersey wasn’t helped by the hit wicket of William Harris and the run out of Anthony Hawkins-Kay in quick succession.
Jersey lost three wickets for 21 runs before Bisson wielded the long handle with a stable Jake Dunford (13 not out from 19 balls) at the other end to add 44 runs for the eighth wicket and see the side through with three balls to spare.
SCOREBOARD
OMAN
Zeeshan Maqsood b Ali Khan 0
Arun Poulose c&b Ali Khan 18
Swapnil Khadye b Taylor 36
Khawar Ali c Dodson b Hutchinson 22
Zeeshan Siddiqui c Hutchinson b Patel 22
Jatinder Singh c Taylor b Patel 18
Amir Ali c Taylor b Patel 4
Ajay Lalcheta lbw Patel 2
Mohammad Nadeem c Taylor b Patel 4
Rajesh Ranpura (not out) 15
Munis Ansari c Allen b Amsterdam 1
Extras (b-4, lb-7, w-10) 21
Total (all out; 49.2 overs) 163
Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-29, 3-75, 4-100, 5-120, 6-133, 7-139, 8-141, 9-152.
Bowling: Ali Khan 6-0-27-2 (w-2); TP Allen 8-2-27-0 (w-1); Danial Ahmed 10-0-29-0 (w-1); EH Hutchinson 6-0-13-1 (w-1); SR Taylor 10-1-33-1 (w-3); TK Patel 9-0-22-5; AAA Amsterdam 0.2-0-1-1.
USA
SR Taylor (not out) 124
Fahad Babar c Jatinder Singh b Ranpura 4
RR Timbawala c Khawar Ali b Amir Ali 11
AAA Amsterdam (not out) 12
Extras (lb-5, w-9) 14
Total (2 wkts; 29.3 overs) 165
Did not bat: AL Dodson, NI Standford, TP Allen, TK Patel, EH Hutchinson, Danial Ahmed, Ali Khan
Fall of wickets: 1-18, 2-87.
Bowling: Rajesh Ranpura 6-1-27-1 (w-2); Munis Ansari 4-1-17-0; Amir Ali 7-2-28-1; Mohammad Nadeem 2-0-16-0 (w-1); Khawar Ali 1-0-12-0; Ajay Lalcheta 6-1-30-0 (w-1); Zeeshan Maqsood 3.3-0-30-0 (w-1).
Player of the match: SR Taylor (USA)
