Nosthush Kenjige, a left-arm bowler of Indian descent, achieved his career-best bowling figures, enabling the United States of America (USA) to surpass India's longstanding world record for defending the lowest total in One Day International (ODI) cricket. The USA successfully defended a total of 122 runs, defeating Oman by 57 runs in their Cricket World Cup League 2 encounter held in Al Amerat, Oman. This achievement marks the lowest total ever defended in a completed men's ODI match of 50 overs, excluding matches with revised targets or reduced overs.

The previous record was held by India, which defended a total of 125 runs against Pakistan during the Rothmans Four-Nations Cup in Sharjah in 1985, where India bowled Pakistan out for 87, winning by 38 runs.

Additionally, this match became the first men's ODI in the history of the format, spanning 4,671 matches, in which no fast bowler bowled a single delivery. All nine bowlers utilized in the match were spinners, highlighting a rare and noteworthy occurrence in cricket.

The match set a record for spinners, with a total of 19 wickets falling, equaling the record for the highest number of wickets taken by spinners in an ODI. This record was previously established in a 2011 ODI between Bangladesh and Pakistan in Chattogram. Kenjige's exceptional performance, which included figures of 5 wickets for 11 runs in 7.3 overs, was crucial to the outcome, as Oman was dismissed for a mere 65 runs in 25.3 overs, marking their lowest total in men's international cricket.

The combined runs scored by both teams amounted to 187 runs across 61 overs, representing the second-lowest aggregate in ODI history for a match in which both teams were all out. The only lower total was recorded in a 2014 ODI between India and Bangladesh, where the teams collectively scored 163 runs over 41 overs.

The Al Amerat ground has been characterized by a significant presence of spinners and low-scoring matches throughout this tournament, particularly in contests involving Oman. In all eight matches played by Oman, the team batting first has been dismissed for fewer than 170 runs, while the remaining four matches have featured scores surpassing 240 runs.

In the most recent match at Al Amerat, which took place on Sunday, Oman was unable to successfully chase down a target of 96 runs against Namibia, losing eight wickets in the process. Notably, the only fast bowler in that game was JJ Smit, who bowled a mere single over. Of the four One Day Internationals in which spinners have taken 17 or more wickets, three were held at Al Amerat.

Kenjige delivered an impressive performance, claiming 5 wickets for just 11 runs, which placed the hosts under immediate pressure and led to their collapse. Milind Kumar's off-spin bowling (2/17) was also pivotal, as he dismissed Oman's captain, Jatinder Singh, for a mere 7 runs. The Omani batting lineup showed minimal resistance, succumbing to the pressure exerted by the opposition.

Harmeet Singh (1/25) and Yasir Mohammed (2/10) provided valuable support to Kenjige, with the latter taking the final wicket of Oman's No. 11 batsman, Siddharth Bukkapatnam, thereby concluding the match swiftly. The performance of the USA spinners was exemplary, resulting in Oman being bowled out for a paltry total.

On the batting side, Oman restricted the USA to just 35.3 overs. The USA's captain, Monank Patel, was dismissed without scoring, contributing to a total of five American batters falling within the first 13 overs. Despite these challenges, Aaron Jones (16) and Sanjay Krishnamurthi (16) made efforts to bolster their team's total. However, it was Milind Kumar who emerged as the top scorer, remaining unbeaten on 47, which included six boundaries, helping the USA surpass the three-figure mark.

Shakeel Ahmad was the standout bowler for Oman, taking 3 wickets for 20 runs, but it was the USA spinners who ultimately dominated the match, securing a decisive victory in this historic encounter marked by spin bowling.

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