Another quite brilliant performance from Team USA made it 3 wins from 3 matches in the latest ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 series in the United Arab Emirates as USA completely outplayed their hosts to take a big win and go well clear at the top of the table.
It was the short journey and change of venue from Sharjah to Dubai as the ICC Global Academy ground with a pitch that had a tinge of green on it after the recent rain in the UAE. Saurabh Netravalkar won the toss and still chose to bat first. After the early loss of Monank Patel, Xavier Marshall and Steven Taylor both hit 4 boundary fours each but when they were dismissed within 3 overs of each other, USA were in trouble at 60 for 3, which soon became 71 for 4 as Ian Holland was caught by Rohan Mustafa.
The supreme form of Aaron Jones continued as he top scored again for USA with 46 and Nisarg Patel, who had come into the side for Karima Gore in the only change to the starting XI made a crucial 40 runs from 49 balls to help guide USA up to 213, bowled all out just 1 ball short of their 50 over allocation.
The thought at the half-way stage of the gathered press-corps was that the total might be around par on a ground that is often high-scoring but from just the second over of the match, the hosts were never really in the chase.
Outstanding seam-bowling from Saurabh Netravalkar and Cameron Stevenson who shared the combined figures of 6 for 33 from 16 overs of high-quality probing quick bowling put USA right on top early in the innings as UAE stumbled to 32 for 5 in the 8th over.
Saurabh Netravalkar’s bowling on this tour has been simply outstanding!
3⃣ ODIs
9⃣ Wickets for 7⃣7⃣ runs
5⃣ Maidens
2⃣.8⃣2⃣ Economy Rate
1⃣ Player of the MatchCaptain America definitely leading from the front for #TeamUSA??#CWCLeague2 #UAEvUSA???? pic.twitter.com/3wmbzno6xA
— USA Cricket (@usacricket) December 12, 2019
Basil Hameed’s 38 was the lone-hand of defence for the Emiratis but when he was bowled by Kenjige, the only wicket of the innings to fall to spin, it was all over for the UAE at 99 for 7.
Ian Holland’s clever changes of pace and slower balls mopped up the tail as he finished with 3 for 11 from just 4 overs and USA ran out comprehensive winners by 98 runs.
WHAT a catch!!!
Steven Taylor pulls off an awesome catch at first slip and Stevenson has his 3rd wicket. UAE fall to 67 for 6 now
?WATCH LIVE➡: https://t.co/zjPn7SqdX6
?MATCH CENTER➡: https://t.co/PMQm0FCKa1#CWCLeague2 #UAEvUSA???? pic.twitter.com/mIFlOchITn
— USA Cricket (@usacricket) December 12, 2019
Tomorrow is a day off for USA before they face-off against Scotland who will be looking to take revenge after America’s win earlier in the week in the first meeting between the two countries. Should USA be able to pull-off a win and make it a clean-sweep 4 from 4 in Dubai, they would move 7 points clear at the top of the table and place themselves firmly in the picture of the 3 qualification spots on the Road to India to the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2022.
Team USA’s schedule in the UAE is as follows:
December 8 USA vs United Arab Emirates, Sharjah Cricket Stadium – Won by 3 wickets
December 9 USA vs Scotland, Sharjah Cricket Stadium – Won by 35 runs
December 12 USA vs United Arab Emirates, ICC Academy Ground, Dubai – Won by 98 runs
December 14 USA vs Scotland, ICC Academy Ground, Dubai
See the full schedule by clicking here.
Team USA squad:
Saurabh Netravalkar (C – Marin 1, Northern California Cricket Association)
Steven Taylor (VC – Sheffield Cricket Club, New York Metropolitan Cricket League)
Karima Gore (Antigua)
Ian Holland (Hampshire, England)
Akshay Homraj (Galaxy Cricket Club, Eastern American Cricket Association)
Elmore Hutchinson (Caribbean CC, Southern California Cricket Association)
Aaron Jones (Atlantis Cricket Club, New York Metropolitan Cricket League)
Nosthush Kenjige (Atlantis Cricket Club, New York Metropolitan Cricket League)
Xavier Marshall (Triggers Cricket Club, Houston Cricket League)
Monank Patel (Freedom Cricket Club, Cricket League of New Jersey)
Nisarg Patel (Vijayta Cricket Club, Southern California Cricket Association)
Timil Patel (Vijayta Cricket Club, Southern California Cricket Association)
Cameron Stevenson (Carlton Cricket Club, Australia)
Rusty Theron (Potomac Cricket Club, Washington Cricket League)
