Indian-Origin Bowlers Shine as UAE’s Batting Line-Up Crumbles in ICC World Cup League 2
In a thrilling match of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2, the United States team showcased an outstanding performance against the UAE on 18th September. The game, held as a part of the one-day series, saw UAE struggling right from the start. The American bowlers, most of whom have Indian origins, tore through the UAE batting line-up, causing their innings to collapse a whopping 118 balls before the end of the match.
Early breakthroughs by Saurabh Netravalkar set the tone
The USA team, led by captain Monank Patel, won the toss and chose to field first, a decision that quickly paid off. The USA bowlers struck early, with Saurabh Netravalkar taking two crucial wickets in a single over, leaving the UAE reeling with just 3 runs on the board. Netravalkar, who has previously played for India’s Under-19 team and Mumbai, put in a stellar performance, breaking the UAE’s confidence early on.
UAE struggles as 6 wickets fall within 13 overs
After the first breakthrough, things only got worse for the UAE team. By the end of the 12th over, USA had reduced UAE to 40 runs with 4 wickets down. USA’s spinner Nashtus Kenjige claimed two wickets to add to the pressure. Then came Jasdeep Singh, who struck twice in the 13th over, taking two wickets in back-to-back balls, further diminishing UAE’s hopes. Jasdeep, originally from Punjab, dominated the bowling attack, leaving the UAE team breathless.
Milind Kumar ends a brief resistance
Despite the early setbacks, UAE’s lower-order batsmen Rahul Chopra and Ali Nasir tried to build a partnership, adding 40 runs. However, Milind Kumar, a former IPL player from Delhi, stepped in to break the stand, giving USA another edge in the match.
Jasdeep Singh shines as USA’s top bowler
The UAE team couldn’t handle the pressure and were bundled out for just 106 runs in 31.2 overs. Jasdeep Singh emerged as the most successful bowler, picking up 4 wickets for just 18 runs in 5 overs. His exceptional spell ensured that UAE never got the chance to recover.
Indian connection in USA’s bowling attack
It’s worth noting that many of the bowlers responsible for dismantling the UAE batting order have strong Indian ties. Saurabh Netravalkar, Jasdeep Singh, and Milind Kumar all have backgrounds rooted in Indian cricket. Netravalkar played for India’s Under-19 team, and Milind Kumar has represented Delhi and Sikkim in domestic cricket. While Jasdeep Singh was born in America, his family hails from Punjab, and he returned to the USA at the age of 13 after spending his early years in India.
The performance of these Indian-origin bowlers was pivotal in ensuring a dominant win for the USA, further cementing their position as a competitive team in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2.
