MUSCAT: Oman's spinners showcased their prowess early on, effectively restricting the Netherlands to a modest total. This was followed by a pivotal moment when skipper Jatinder Singh delivered a decisive knock of 58, propelling Oman to a resounding eight-wicket victory in the Cricket World Cup (CWC) League 2 at the Oman Cricket Academy ground on Tuesday. This commanding performance marked Oman's second consecutive triumph, following an equally impressive win over the UAE on Friday.
The spinners established a strong foundation, limiting the Netherlands to a total of 132 as the slow left-arm orthodox trio of Shakeel Ahmed, Aamir Kaleem, and Wasim Ali executed their strategies with finesse. Ahmed emerged as the standout performer, achieving 4/26, including two wides, while Kaleem (2/27) and Ali (1/18) provided solid support. Leg-spinner Samay Shrivastav, who had demonstrated his effectiveness in the UAE match with a four-wicket haul, also made a significant contribution with 2/36.
Following the decision to bat first by Oman, the choice proved to be advantageous as the spinners capitalized on the conditions, securing nine wickets. Aryan Dutt was the first to fall, being run out by Ahmed. Ahmed struck early, dismissing the openers Max O'Dowd and Vikramjit Singh, and Aamir Kaleem quickly added to the pressure by taking the wicket of Dutch captain Scott Edwards. The Netherlands struggled to find their footing, eventually settling at 22/3.
Bas de Leede put up a valiant effort with a gritty 51 off 89 balls, while Noah Croes put up a fight with a determined 29 off 43. Their partnership briefly breathed new life into the Dutch innings, but it was short-lived as Wasim Ali dismissed Croes, and Ahmed returned to take out both Shariz Ahmad and de Leede, leaving the Netherlands in a precarious position at 114/6. The tail offered little resistance, with Roelof van der Merwe falling to Kaleem and Shrivastav concluding the Dutch innings with a decisive finish at 132 in 40.2 overs.
In pursuit of a target of 133, Oman's openers Jatinder Singh and Ashish Odedara put on a commendable 81-run partnership in just 20 overs, establishing a solid foundation for a comfortable chase. Odedara, who was named Player of the Match in the UAE game, scored 27 off 57 balls, including three boundaries and a six before being dismissed by Dutt. Jatinder, displaying patience and composure, reached his half-century and contributed another 33 runs with Wasim Ali before being bowled by van der Merwe for a steady 58 off 95 balls, including three boundaries. Wasim Ali (24 not out) and Hammad Mirza completed the chase, guiding Oman to a total of 133/2 in 34.1 overs.
Ahmed's remarkable performance, culminating in a four-wicket haul, was recognized with the Player of the Match award, presented to him by Paul Sheridan, the Vice-Chairman of Oman Cricket.
This triumph contributed two significant points to Oman's score, establishing them on par with Namibia at 10 points, albeit with a lower net run rate. Oman now faces two additional matches at home in this tri-series, and with sustained success, there is potential for them to secure a position in the third or fourth place by the series' conclusion. Presently, the USA leads the standings with 16 points from 12 matches, closely followed by Canada (16 points), Scotland (14 points), and the Netherlands (12 points).
Brief Scoring Summary:
The Netherlands scored 132 runs in 40.2 overs, with Bas de Leede contributing 51 runs and Noah Croes scoring 29 runs. Shakeel Ahmed achieved four wickets for 26 runs, while Aamir Kaleem took two wickets for 27 runs, and Samay Shrivastav took two wickets for 36 runs. In contrast, Oman scored 133 runs in 34.1 overs, with Jatinder Singh scoring 58 runs, Ashish Odedara scoring 27 runs, and Wasim Ali scoring 24 not out. Aryan Dutt took one wicket for 35 runs, and Roelof van der Merwe took one wicket for 43 runs.
