Oman achieved a tense two-wicket victory over Namibia in the ICC World Cup League 2, avenging their previous defeat. This win propelled Oman to second place in the standings with 18 points from 15 matches. Namibia struggled, scoring only 96 runs, while Oman navigated a batting collapse to chase down the target successfully. Aamir Kaleem was named player of the match and Oman’s next match against the USA will be critical for the standings.
Oman turned the tables on Namibia in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2, achieving a tense two-wicket victory at the Oman Cricket Academy in Al Amerat. This triumph, occurring in a match that favored spinners due to low scores, elevated Oman to second place in the league standings with 18 points after 15 matches, just two points behind the USA, which leads with 20 points from the same number of games. Canada trails in third with 16 points from 12 contests.
Namibia opted to bat first but faced a dismal start, collapsing to 19/4 within the first 10 overs. Oman’s spinners took advantage of the favorable conditions, led by left-arm bowler Shakeel Ahmed, who secured figures of 4/25. Jay Odedra also made early breakthroughs, dismissing Zane Green and JP Kotze, while Shakeel dismantled Namibia’s middle order, effectively restricting their scoring.
Despite the early setbacks, Namibia captain Gerhard Erasmus and Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton attempted to stabilize the innings, adding 35 runs for the fifth wicket. However, Aamir Kaleem put an end to that partnership, claiming Erasmus’s wicket. Namibia ultimately suffered a collapse, losing wickets consistently, with Siddharth Bukkapatnam and leg-spinner Samay Shrivastava ensuring all wickets fell to spin as Namibia was bowled out for just 96 runs in 33.1 overs.
In their chase of 97, Oman began brightly with a solid 42-run opening stand between Jatinder Singh and Aamir Kaleem. However, the momentum shifted when Gerhard Erasmus took three quick wickets to instigate a dramatic collapse, leaving Oman at 87/8. This included key dismissals of Hammad Mirza and Sufyan Mehmood, bringing the game to a nail-biting finish.
Despite this pressure, Hashir Dafedar and Siddharth Bukkapatnam remained composed, guiding Oman over the line with Dafedar hitting the critical boundary. Kaleem’s all-round contribution earned him the player of the match accolade. Oman’s next challenge comes against the USA on Tuesday, where a victory could see them ascend to the top of the table.
Properties: Namibia 96 all out in 33.1 overs (Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton 30, Gerhard Erasmus 15; Shakeel Ahmed 4/25, Aamir Kaleem 2/16, Jay Odedra 2/24) lost to Oman 100/8 in 22.4 overs (Aamir Kaleem 21, Vinayak Shukla 18; Gerhard Erasmus 5/34, Bernard Scholtz 2/31).
Oman’s victory over Namibia in the ICC World Cup League 2 not only avenged their earlier loss but also enhanced their standings significantly. The win, characterized by excellent spin bowling and a tense batting performance, sets up crucial upcoming matches, particularly against the USA, which could determine their position in the final rankings of the league.
Original Source: timesofoman.com
