Al Amerat: Oman hammered PNG by 10 wickets in the opening match of the Twenty20 World Cup 2021 at the Oman Cricket Academy Grounds at Al Amerat on Sunday.
A brief ceremony opened the global showdown, being held in the Sultanate for the first time.
The inauguration was presided over by HH Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham al Said, Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth.
Women riders on horseback at the boundary line and the Royal Cavalry’s women band’s performance added colour to the function marking the Omani Women’s Day on October 17.
Oman captain Zeeshan Maqsood won the toss and elected to bowl first in the afternoon match.
Chasing a modest total of 130 to win, Oman raced to the target in
13.4 overs to collect the two full points from the first match of Group B.
Jatinder Singh (73) and Aqib Ilyas (50) remained unbeaten.
Oman began in nice fashion after reaching 36 in 5 overs without loss.
In 10 overs, Oman were 88 for no loss with Jatinder and Aqib belting the PNG bowlers around the park.
Oman completed their 100 runs in 11.3 overs.
JATINDER HITS FORM
Jatinder, who was off-colour during the practice matches against Sri Lanka last week, brought his fifty with a huge six in 33 balls and followed it up with a boundary to the off-side in the over of Damien Ravu.
After 12 overs, Oman required only 17 runs to win the match.
In the afternoon, after a brief opening session which saw Opener Aqib Ilyas
Oman were off to a cracking start by claiming two wickets in the first two overs with PNG putting nothing on the board.
Oman left-arm pacer Bilal Khan struck in the first over itself with an in-swinging delivery when he had Tony Ura’s inside-edge rocking the stumps.
Right-arm pacer Kaleemullah dealt another blow for PNG when he had Lega Siaka bottom-edging to his wickets with PNG yet to open their account.
PNG then recovered to 23 runs for 2 wickets in the fourth over.
Captain Assad Vala and Charles Amni combined well to take PNG to 80 runs without any further loss of wicket after 11 overs.
Vala hit Oman spinner Aqib Ilyas for a six in his last ball of the 11th over to reach a personal score of 40.
The partnership was broken when Mohammed Nadeem’s brilliant direct hit on his own bowling ended the innings of Amini at 37 (24 balls).
Vala tried to turn the back of length delivery on leg stump but hit back down the pitch. Amini set off for a run from the non-striker’s end but was sent back by Vala. Nadeem stopped the ball in his follow through and his accurate throw shattered the stumps.
The PNG captain departed when the score was at 102 leaving two well-set batsmen in the pavilion.
Oman captain Zeeshan used his full experience to wreck the PNG middle order to claim four wickets for 20 runs in his four overs.
First he bowled Norman Vanua in the first ball of the 16th over with PNG at 112-5.
Then after PNG collapsed like nine pins and lost four more wickets, adding only 7 runs.
Zeeshan accounted for Sese Bau, Kiplin Doriga and Damien Ravu, while Bilal Khan claimed the wicket of Simon Atai.
Pictures by Faisal Al Balushi
