As a baseball-crazy nation, the U.S. is finally going to make its presence felt at the highest level of another sport played with a bat and a ball. Yes, believe it or not, the U.S. cricket team has become one of the handful teams to get the elite status of playing one day international (ODI) games.

Team USA ensured the 50-over-a-side status after thrashing a hapless Hong Kong on an eventful day in the International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cricket League Division 2. Former Caribbean cricketer and current U.S. batting spearhead Xavier Marshall smashed a brilliant century to clinch USA's ODI status in the Namibian capital of Windhoek on Wednesday.

Kinchit Shah impressed with both bat and ball in the losing effort for the Hong Kong side as he bagged a four-for in USA's innings and then top scored with 45 in his side's reply. However, his brilliant all-around efforts went in vain as Karima Gore picked up two wickets lead a balanced bowling effort from the Team USA.

Aizaz Khan made 35 not out and Ehsan Khan was unbeaten on 31 not out as Hong Kong failed to accelerate their scoring and ended up 84 runs short in the game in Namibia.

The Team USA opener, who hit exactly 100, was well-supported by Steven Taylor's swashbuckling 88 as the American side amassed a total of 280 for eight from their stipulated 50 overs after being put into bat by their opponents.

After his side made it to the league of the ODI-playing nations, USA Coach Pubudu Dassanayake said: "As a team, we have worked really hard for the last two-and-half-years and we have targeted this tournament. The boys are feeling great. It is a big achievement as the USA have never been to this level before and we are very happy to be in (ICC Men's Cricket World Cup) League 2. Moving forward playing competitive ODI cricket for the next two-and-a-half years is another level, bringing the team to this will require more hard work. We are going to press hard in the next game. We want to win the tournament and be the best team leaving Namibia."

Meanwhile, Indian-origin captain Anshuman Rath from the Hong Kong team, mentioned: "It is obviously not good to lose, the USA simply outplayed us today. We have to pick ourselves up and next game against Namibia is very crucial. Tomorrow we will reflect and recover. We were bailed out today by Canada beating PNG, making the next round of games very very crucial for all four teams and hopefully, we will not leave it to chance and beat Namibia."

On the same day, another upcoming cricket-playing nation Oman also grabbed the ODI status after overpowering hosts Namibia in another game of the ICC World Cricket League Division 2.

(Top image: Photo courtesy of USA Cricket)