Oman made cricket history by bowling out Namibia using only spin bowlers in an ODI, limiting them to 96 runs. Shakeel Ahmed excelled with 4 wickets for 25 runs. Oman achieved this remarkable feat at Al Amerat, becoming the first team to bowl out an opponent without seamers, establishing a new precedent for future competitions.
In a historic achievement, Oman became the first team to bowl out an opponent without a single over of seam bowling in a One Day International (ODI) against Namibia at Al Amerat. Shakeel Ahmed’s impressive performance, recording figures of 4 wickets for 25 runs, spearheaded Oman’s effort, dismissing Namibia for a mere 96 runs during the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 match.
Despite a dismal start at 19 for 4, Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton’s contribution of 30 runs helped Namibia avoid an earlier collapse. Oman’s openers, Aamir Kaleem and Jatinder Singh, laid a solid foundation with a partnership of 42 runs. However, the innings faltered when Gerhard Erasmus claimed 5 wickets for 34 runs, reducing Oman to 87 for 8 before they secured victory without losing any further wickets.
Remarkably, Oman employed only spin bowlers throughout Namibia’s innings, which lasted 33.1 overs, marking it as the longest spin-exclusive innings in a decided ODI. This feat establishes Oman not only as the first team to bowl out an opponent without seamers in ODI history but also aligns with the trend in white-ball cricket where all-spin innings are becoming notable.
In earlier statistics, the only similar instances occurred in women’s cricket, both involving unsuccessful defenses of sub-100 totals. This achievement highlights Oman’s innovative approach in cricket, especially considering a comparable event where Paarl Royals used spinners exclusively for 20 overs in the SA20 franchise competition.
The historical occurrences of spin-only innings in ODIs are documented as follows:
1. Oman Men – 96 runs in 33.1 overs against Namibia Men at Al Amerat (2025)
2. Bangladesh Women – 98 runs in 23.5 overs against Australia Women at Mirpur (2024)
3. Pakistan Women – 70 runs in 22.3 overs against India Women at P Sara Oval (2017)
4. USA Men – 36 runs in 5.2 overs against Nepal Men at Kirtipur (2020)
Oman’s accomplishment of delivering a complete ODI bowling innings exclusively through spin marks a groundbreaking moment in cricket history. Their ability to restrict Namibia to just 96 runs without using seamers showcases a strategic shift in bowling tactics. This game reinforces the effectiveness of spin bowling in limited-overs formats and sets a precedent for future matches.
Original Source: www.wisden.com
