On a historic day for cricket in America, Team USA were robbed of any chance of winning their first ever Twenty20 International after a power-packed batting performance in a rain-affected game that ended up with no result and being abandoned after constant rain in Dubai.
It may only rain on average for 5 days a year in the United Arab Emirates but today was one of those unlucky fateful days, as the history books will always record a washout for USA’s first T20I.
Watch back on the full match below as USA were inserted to bat first after losing the toss under cloudy skies, although their innings was reduced to just 15 overs after several stoppages
The play that did take place all went overwhelmingly USA’s way after the early loss of Xavier Marshall for just 1. From there it was the Steven Taylor show as he hit the ball to all parts of the ICC Academy Oval, he struck 9 x 4’s and 3 x 6’s en route to completing USA’s first-ever T20I fifty before falling for 72 off just 38 balls.
Any thoughts of the momentum being taken out of the innings though were put to rest by the oldest member of the Team USA touring party as Roy Silva struck 3 sixes in just 7 balls to give a late surge to see USA finish their shortened 15 overs with 152 for 7.
Another rain stoppage saw further overs reduced and the hosts, UAE were set 143 to win from just 13 overs via the Duckworth Lewis Stern method. But they never got the chance to get there as the rain came again with just 3.3 overs gone and two wickets falling both to Jessy Singh leaving the match short of the minimum number of overs for DLS to give a result.
You can see the full scorecard by clicking here.
The two sides will play the 2nd and final T20I in the series tomorrow at 2pm local time at the same venue.
Team USA schedule in UAE:
March 15 – USA v UAE (2pm) – T20I – ICC Academy Oval 1, Dubai – NO RESULT
March 16 – USA v UAE (2pm) – T20I – ICC Academy Oval 1, Dubai
March 18 – USA v UAE (10am) – 50 Overs – ICC Academy Oval 1, Dubai
March 19 – USA v Lancashire (10am) – 50 Overs – ICC Academy Oval 1, Dubai
March 21 – USA v UAE XI (10am) – 50 Overs – Sevens Cricket Ground, Dubai
March 22 – USA v UAE XI (10am) – 50 Overs – Sevens Cricket Ground, Dubai
March 24 – USA v UAE XI (10am) – 50 Overs – Sevens Cricket Ground, Dubai
March 25 – USA v UAE (10am) – 50 Overs – Sevens Cricket Ground, Dubai
March 28 – USA v UAE (10am) – 50 Overs – Sevens Cricket Ground, Dubai
