Milind, Mukkamalla, and Ugarkar headline USA's record demolition of UAE

Records tumbled for USA in Dubai as they annihilated UAE by 243 runs, their largest victory margin in ODIs, to reassert dominance atop the World Cup League 2 table. The American juggernaut has now racked up 10 wins in 12 matches this year, showing no signs of slowing down with a flawless 4-0 sweep on their Dubai tour against Nepal and UAE.

Fueling that charge was Milind Kumar, whose brilliant run in ODI cricket continued with yet another masterclass. Coming on the back of three consecutive fifties, the 34-year-old raised the bar further, smashing 123* off 125 balls to become the fastest American to 1000 ODI runs and also the joint third-fastest globally in terms of innings. The former Delhi and RCB batter reached the milestone in just 21 innings.

Milind stitched a record 264-run unbeaten stand with Sai Teja Mukkamalla (137* off 149) after USA were reeling at 26 for 3. The pair, who had already shared a 123-run match-winning stand against Nepal earlier in the week, took on the mantle yet again to steer USA to the driver's seat. Both started watchfully before unfurling a flurry of imperious cover drives. The duo followed that with swivelling pulls and scoops to lift USA to 298 at the end of 50 overs.

The 23-year-old Mukkamalla, a touch player with a hunger to occupy the crease and a flair for manipulating spinners, mirrored Milind stroke for stroke. The duo's understanding has become the backbone of USA's middle order, with their composure and controlled aggression.

Rushil Ugarkar, the 21-year-old MI New York pacer who sealed the MLC title with his last-over heroics earlier this year, tore through UAE with a spell that defied conditions. Playing only his third ODI, Ugarkar unleashed a devastating display of outswing that the UAE top order had no answers for.

After Saurabh Netravalkar removed Alishan Sharafu in the first over, Ugarkar got to work immediately producing banana-like outswingers that left batters tentative. He nicked off Aryansh Sharma and Shoaib Khan in quick succession, and though a dropped catch briefly spared Muhammad Waseem, Ugarkar soon trapped him plumb with a vicious in-dipper showcasing a rare skill to swing the ball both ways. UAE crumbled to 16 for 7, flirting with the humiliation of the lowest ODI total ever recorded. A faint lower-order resistance saved them from that fate before Ugarkar returned to clean up Junaid Siddique, to skittle UAE for 49 all out.