Netravalkar, Ugarkar rip through Scotland as USA cruise to commanding win

Netravalkar, Ugarkar rip through Scotland as USA cruise to commanding win

Saurabh Netravalkar ripped through Scotland with a hostile new ball spell before USA's top order made light work of a modest chase, cruising to a thumping 6-wicket win with 23 overs to spare. This was USA's first win on the Nepal tour after two successive defeats.

Scotland elected to bat first after winning the toss but failed to capitalize on a placid surface. Rushil Ugarkar struck in his first over, pinning Charlie McReath plumb in front. Scotland raced to 37/1 in the first six overs with George Munsey finding boundaries at will.

Enter Netravalkar. After tying Munsey down, he induced an error as Munsey danced down the track and feathered through to the keeper. Netravalkar followed with a wicket maiden, sending Richie Berrington back after the skipper poked outside off stump. Michael English met a similar fate in the following over. Netravalkar closed his opening spell with figures of 7-3-16-3, completely turning the innings. Shubham Ranjane then claimed the prized wicket of Brandon McMullen.

Mark Watt registered the highest ODI score of his career with a fighting 66, combining with Matt Cross in a 42-run stand. Harmeet Singh broke through in the 30th over, dismissing Cross. Ugarkar returned with venom, trapping Michael Leask in front before dismissing Jack Jarvis with an awkward delivery that climbed sharply.

Ugarkar's twin strikes left Scotland reeling at 122/8. Watt shifted gears, farming the strike and launching blows, but Ugarkar returned to end his stay and complete a four-wicket haul as Scotland folded for 169.

USA's response was emphatic. Shayan Jahangir and Smit Patel all but killed the chase in the powerplay with a rapid half-century opening stand. Smit continued his rich form after a hundred in the tour game followed by back-to-back ODI fifties. Shayan welcomed Safyaan Sharif with a meaty pull before consecutive boundaries. Oliver Davidson cleaned up Shayan for 37, while Mark Watt briefly gave Scotland hope after Smit feathered a tame dismissal for 37.

Shehan Jayasuriya displayed his prowess against spin, but an ugly mix-up with captain Sai Teja Mukkamalla ended his stay. Mukkamalla and Milind Kumar ensured USA never allowed Scotland back in, calmly keeping the bowlers at bay. Mukkamalla fell 13 short of the target, but the result had long been sealed.

Brief scores: Scotland 169 in 43.3 overs (Mark Watt 66; Rushil Ugarkar 4-48, Saurabh Netravalkar 3-19) lost to USA 170/4 in 27.1 overs (Shayan Jahangir 37, Smit Patel 37) by 6 wickets