Cassell breaks ODI record with seven-wicket haul on debut

Charlie Cassell (right) celebrates a dismissal     

Charlie Cassell beat Kagiso Rabada’s nine-year-old record for best bowling figures on debut in Men’s ODIs when he had Oman No.11 Bilal Khan caught behind in Dundee.  

It was a dream debut for Cassell, who picked up two wickets with his opening two deliveries and finished with a seven-wicket haul to guide Scotland to an easy victory.  

“It’s a bit surreal,” Cassell said after the match.  

“You wake up hoping to get one or two on your debut, you don’t expect to get seven!  

“You don’t feel too under pressure with the boys, they just want you to enjoy your cricket.”  

“I felt very relaxed, just hoping to find the right spot, and today was just one of those days.”  

Cassell made an impact soon after being handed his debut cap in Scotland’s ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 clash against Oman.  

With pinpoint accuracy, he trapped former Oman Captain Zeeshan Maqsood leg before off his very first ball in international cricket.  
(ICC)

His second delivery breached the defences of Ayaan Khan, making it the first-ever instance of a bowler having picked up wickets off his first two balls in ODI cricket on debut. Two balls later, Cassell dismissed Khalid Kail.  

Cassell’s sensational debut continued yielding wickets and he had a five-wicket haul with the dismissal of Mehran Khan in the 18th over. With this, he joined an exclusive list of 15 players, who had picked a five-for on Men’s ODI debut.  

But it got even better when Cassell ran through the Oman tail to finish with seven wickets for 21, the best-ever bowling figures by an ODI bowler on international debut.  

Oman were bowled out for 91 after being asked to bat. Pratik Athavale top-scored with 34 while only two other batters reached double digits and Scotland reached the victory target for the loss of just two wickets.