Dallas: The United States are champions of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2. Monank Patel’s superb 108 led the hosts to a four-wicket win over Namibia at Grand Prairie Stadium on Wednesday, taking USA to an unassailable 47 points and their first-ever League 2 title.
Chasing Namibia’s 298 for 9, the USA skipper held the innings together with a fine century, supported by Smit Patel (50) and Shehan Jayasuriya (74), as the home side got over the line with seven deliveries to spare. It was USA’s second giant chase in as many games in Dallas, after Milind Kumar’s 116 had powered a 331-run pursuit against UAE.
Michael van Lingen had given Namibia a platform with century partnerships alongside Louren Steenkamp (30) and captain Gerhard Erasmus (76), but the total proved just short of enough.
The triumph caps a dominant campaign: 23 wins from 34 matches. USA (47 points) cannot now be caught, with Scotland (45) and Netherlands (38) also assured of berths at the 10-team ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2027.
The Qualifier will decide the final four spots at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027, to be hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia from October 2 to November 21. The Qualifier winner goes straight into Round two (Group Stage) while the other three qualifiers enter the Super Series first round. The 2027 World Cup will feature 14 teams and 57 matches across 12 venues — returning to Africa for the first time since 2003.
