The USA and Oman created a historic moment by not delivering a single fast ball during their ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 encounter in Al Amerat on Tuesday.
All 61 overs were delivered by spin bowlers, marking the first instance in 4,671 men’s one-day internationals (ODIs) where no pace or seam bowling was utilized.
The USA triumphed over the hosts Oman by 57 runs after being dismissed for 122 in 35.3 overs. This became the lowest total ever successfully defended in a complete men’s ODI.
The previous record for an uninterrupted match was set by India in 1985 when they defended 125 against Pakistan, securing a 38-run victory.
USA’s spinner Nosthush Kenjige achieved a personal best of 5-11 as Oman was all out for 65 in 25.3 overs.
The total of 19 wickets taken by spinners also equaled the record for the most wickets claimed by spin bowlers in an ODI, a feat previously achieved in a Bangladesh-Pakistan match in 2011. The remaining wicket was a run-out.
The combined score of 187 runs stands as the second-lowest aggregate in a full men’s ODI, only surpassed by the 163-run match between India and Bangladesh in 2014.
This follows the Paarl Royals becoming the first team to bowl 20 overs of spin in a T20 during their SA20 victory over the Pretoria Capitals in January.
