WINDHOEK: Pakistan-born pacer Ali Khan exhibited an outstanding bowling performance to help USA beat Jersey on Tuesday and bolstered their hopes of featuring at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, later this year in India.
Ali wreaked havoc on Jersey’s batting line-up as he grabbed seven wickets for 32 runs in his sides’ final round-robin match at the CWC Qualifier Play-off in Namibia.
With the win, USA confirmed their spot in the megaevents’ Qualifiers in June, moving a step closer to finding a place at this year’s ODI World Cup.
The 32-year-old dismissed five batters during a terrific opening spell at the United Cricket Club Ground before returning at the death to wrap up the Jersey tail just when they were well-positioned to take the victory.
With his bowling exploits during the game, Ali registered the seventh-best figure achieved in men’s ODI cricket. Sri Lanka great Chaminda Vaas is the only bowler to take more than seven wickets in a 50-over contest.
The Punjab-born fast bowler moved to the USA as a teenager and started to display his capabilities in various T20 leagues around the world in the last decade. He represented Guyana Amazon Warriors in the Caribbean Premier League before making his ODI debut in 2019 for his adopted country of the USA when he featured against Papua New Guinea.
it is pertinent to mention here that USA will face the likes of 1996 champions Sri Lanka and two-time winners the West Indies at the Qualifier tournament in Zimbabwe during June and July.
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