05/27/2025
USA pull out a tight contest against Oman, narrowly defending a first innings total of 293 for 8 to win by 9 runs. Oman needed 14 off the final over with the last two tailend batters in, Shakeel Ahmed and Samay Shrivastava, but could only manage four singles off Jessy Singh.
Oman got as close as they did thanks to a valiant effort from an unlikely source, allrounder Sufyan Mehmood. The 33-year-old has been in the Oman squad for a decade but mostly as a reserve selection on tours. Coming into today, he had 4 wickets and 63 runs in nine career List A appearances. He wound up taking 3 for 58 in the first innings before top-scoring with 72 off 51 balls coming in at No. 8 in the chase. His third six, driven over long-on against Harmeet Singh in the 47th over, brought the equation down to 27 needed off 22 balls for Oman. But they only had two wickets in hand and it wound up being the last boundary they would score in the match. With 21 needed off 14 balls and knowing they'd have to face Saurabh Netravalkar in the 49th over, Mehmood tried to scoop Jessy Singh over fine leg and was bowled. Jessy ended with 3 for 64 off his 10 overs. The last wicket pair could only manage 11 runs off the last 13 balls afterwards.
USA's win was set up by a half-century from Sai Mukkamalla in the first innings, who top-scored with 73 off 79 balls before he was dismissed by Mehmood. USA ends the home tri-series with a 3-1 record and now are two points clear of the Netherlands at the top of the CWC League Two table after 20 of 36 matches played.