Cricket news round-up – April 25: Oman, USA get ODI status, West Indies recall Russell, Bangalore’s Playoffs hopes alive

Oman became ODI cricket’s newest member following their superlative performance in ICC WCL Division 2, while USA regained their ODI status; West Indies recalled Andre Russell to their World Cup squad; Royal Challengers Bangalore beat Kings XI Punjab in the IPL; and Merissa Aguilleira announced her retirement from international cricket.

Oman, USA get ODI status

A 6-wicket win again hosts as Namibia in ICC World Cricket League Division 2 helped Oman earn ODI status for the first time. Namibia recovered from 98/7 to 213/9 thanks to Zane Green (46) and JJ Smit (60). For Oman, Fayyaz Butt took 3/52, Khawar Ali 2/23, and Zeeshan Maqsood 2/27. Oman won by 4 wickets with 5 balls to spare thanks to Sandeep Goud (57) and Suraj Kumar (51).

USA, too, will now play ODIs after their 2 matches in the 2004 Champions Trophy. Their 280/8 was built around a 184-run stand between former West Indian Xavier Marshall (100) and Steven Taylor (88). They then restricted Hong Kong to 196/7.

Opening batting, Assad Vala was last out for 82 in Papua New Guinea’s 154 as Dillon Heyliger took 4/41. Davy Jacobs (52*) then guided Canada to a 3-wicket win.

West Indies recall Russell; leave out Pollard, Narine, Samuels

Andre Russell’s superlative performance in the ongoing IPL earned him a spot in West Indies’ World Cup squad. Russell’s only ODI in the last three years was in last July, against Bangladesh. Notable omissions include Sunil Narine, Kieron Pollard, and Marlon Samuels. The squad reads:

Jason Holder (c), Shai Hope (wk), Nicholas Pooran (wk), Fabian Allen, Darren Bravo, Carlos Brathwaite, Sheldon Cottrell, Shannon Gabriel, Chris Gayle, Shimron Hetmyer, Evin Lewis, Ashley Nurse, Kemar Roach, Andre Russell, Oshane Thomas.

Bangalore beat Punjab, keep Playoffs hopes alive

Royal Challengers Bangalore moved up from the bottom spot for the first time in IPL 2019. They first posted 202/4 at Chinnaswamy against Kings XI Punjab, adding 52 in the last 15 balls. AB de Villiers hit a whirlwind 44-ball 82 not out. He found support in Parthiv Patel (43 in 24) and Marcus Stoinis (46* in 34). Amidst the carnage, R Ashwin had figures of 4-0-15-1.

Chris Gayle (23 in 10) and KL Rahul (42 in 27) added 42 in just 20 balls. More blows came from Mayank Agarwal (35 in 21) and Nicholas Pooran (46 in 28). Punjab needed 30 off the last 2 overs but could score only 12/4. Umesh Yadav took 3/36 and Navdeep Saini 2/33.

Aguilleira quits

Former West Indian captain Merissa Aguilleira, member of the World T20-winning squad of 2016 and veteran of 112 ODIs and 95 T20Is, has retired from international cricket.

Aguillera’s 104 dismissals (78 catches, 26 stumpings) are the fifth-highest in ODI history, while her 72 (38 catches, 34 stumpings) are joint-second in T20Is. She also has 1,752 runs in ODIs and another 768 in T20Is.