The recent ODI match between the USA and Oman made history by featuring only spin bowling, recording the first instance in 4,671 matches without pace bowling. The USA won by 57 runs after posting a total of 122 runs, setting the lowest total successfully defended in ODI history. Nosthush Kenjige’s 5-11 highlight’s the significant role of spinners as 19 wickets fell to spin, equaling a previous ODI record.
In a groundbreaking match at Al Amerat, the USA and Oman made cricket history by exclusively utilizing spin bowlers, marking the first occasion in 4,671 men’s one-day internationals where no fast or seam bowling occurred. The USA emerged victorious, defeating Oman by 57 runs despite being dismissed for just 122 in 35.3 overs, setting a record for the lowest total successfully defended in a full men’s ODI match.
Prior to this, the lowest defended total was India’s 125 runs against Pakistan in 1985. In this historic game, USA bowler Nosthush Kenjige excelled, achieving remarkable bowling figures of 5 wickets for only 11 runs, contributing significantly to Oman’s collapse as they were all out for a mere 65 runs in 25.3 overs.
Additionally, the match saw a total of 19 wickets fall to spinners, equaling the previous record for the most wickets taken by spinners in an ODI, first set during a match between Bangladesh and Pakistan in 2011. The combined total of 187 runs represented the second-lowest aggregate in a full men’s ODI, narrowly behind the 163 runs scored in the 2014 IOS match between India and Bangladesh.
This notable event follows the earlier achievement by the Paarl Royals, who became the first team to bowl 20 consecutive overs of spin in a T20 match during their victory over Pretoria Capitals in January, indicating a shift towards spin dominance in limited overs cricket.
The match between the USA and Oman not only set new records for ODI cricket but also highlighted the strategic use of spin bowling. With the USA’s historic win and remarkable bowling performances, this event reshapes the understanding of tactics in ODIs, potentially influencing future strategies in the game.
Original Source: www.bbc.com
