USA lead race but Oman stay in hunt for Cricket World Cup 2027

Thanks to their two victories in four matches in the tri-series at the Al Amerat Stadium in Muscat, host Oman have managed to keep their chances of making the 2027 Cricket World Cup alive.

Due to their wins over United States of America (USA) and Namibia in the February tri-series, Oman are placed fourth in the points table which comprises eight teams. The top four of these eight teams will advance to the 10-team 2027 Cricket World Cup Qualifier, from where the top four teams will qualify for the 2027 Cricket World Cup.

So it is a long way still but the fact that they have managed to keep themselves among the top four should give them confidence. USA, however, cemented their position at the top, losing just one of their four games.

Oman had lost the first game to Namibia by 23 runs on February 10. They couldn't even chase the modest 170-run target in the 50 overs. Malan Kruger was the Player of the Match for his 39.

Leg-spinner Samay Shrivastava was the pick of the bowlers for Oman with 4/56.

Oman then won back-to-back games against USA and Namibia. They beat USA by seven wickets and Namibia by just two wickets.

In the February 12 encounter against USA, left-arm spinner Shakeel Ahmed took 4/26 to help Oman restrict USA. Ahmed removed the top three batsmen -- Smit Patel, Andries Gous and skipper Monank Patel -- early to reduce USA to 36/3. The Player of the Match also picked the innings top scorer Saiteja Mukkamalla (80) to restrict USA to 151 in 42.1 overs.

Oman chased the target in 45.5 overs, losing just three wickets. Skipper Jatinder Singh top-scored with unbeaten 82 off 127 balls (8x4s, 2x6s). Left-arm spinner Harmeet Singh took 2/20.

In the February 16 match against Namibia, Shakeel Ahmed again rocked the batting line-up, picking 4/25. However, it was another left-arm spinner Aamir Kaleem who picked the key wickets of skipper Gerhard Erasmus (15) and in-form Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton (30) to turn the match as the African nation was bowled out for 96 in 33.1 overs.

Oman chased the target in 22.4 overs, reaching 100/8. Player of the Match Kaleem top-scored with 21 off 33 balls.

Th Omani team, however, lost their fourth match to USA by 57 runs on February 18.

USA won both the games against Namibia in a convincing manner, by 114 runs on February 8 and 70 runs on February 14. Milind Kumar, with 54 and 4/48, was the Player of the Match in the first game while Andries Gous, with 83, was the Player of the Match in the second.

Oman cricket, 2027 Cricket World Cup, USA Cricket, Harmeet Singh, Andries Gous, Monank Patel