Rafi too good for IAS as Stallions move to top, Sufyan leads Renaissance to big win

MUSCAT: Star all-rounder Rafi Ullah had a terrific outing, helping Oman Stallions to a massive 225-run victory against IAS in a 50-over Premier Division League clash at Oman Cricket Turf 1 in Amerat on Saturday.

Stallions’ huge total of 393 for 8 included Rafi’s scintillating 91 off 41 with as many as 10 sixes, Vinayak Shukla’s 86 and Pratik Athavale’s 67. Imran Muhammed and Mudassar Iqbal claimed three wickets each.

IAS was marching on slow and steady at 79 for 1 in 18 overs before it ran into Rafi Ullah’s golden arm and collapsed for a lowly 168 in the 45 th over. Rafi conceded only 31 runs in his 9 overs, picking up 4 wickets whereas Akshay Patel bagged 3 for 31 in 10. Haythim Bahar (42) and Akmal Shahzad (41) were IAS’ top scorers. Stallions now lead the points table with 14 from 8 matches followed by Muscat CT which has 12 from 7.

Brief Scores (Premier Division): Oman Stallions 393 for 8 in 50 overs (Rafi Ullah 91 – 3×4, 10×6, Vinayak Shukla 86 – 8×4, 3×6, Pratik Athavale 67 – 10×4, Imran Muhammad 3-67, Mudassar Iqbal 3-74, Khalid Rasheed 2-74) beat IAS (Ibn Abdul Samad Eng & Cons) 168 all out in 44.1 overs (Haythim Bahar 42 – 6×4, Akmal Shahzad 41 – 7×4, Rafi Ullah 4-31, Akshaykumar Patel 3-31, Utkarsh Sahu 2-43) by 225 runs.

Sufyan bowls Renaissance to victory

Earlier on Friday, Oman all-rounder Sufyan Mahmood’s magnificent 5 for 39 powered Renaissance to a comfortable 6-wicket win over AER International Trading and Contracting in a Premier Division game at the same venue.

Sufyan was outstanding with the ball as AER found his seaming deliveries too hot to handle on a chilly morning, getting dismissed for 112 in 26.2 overs. Asif Khan and Mehdi Hasan took two wickets each. Usama Aqeel topscored with 47.

Sufyan showed his batting form as well, topscoring with an unbeaten 32 off 40 as Renaissance surpassed the total in 22.4 overs, scoring 118 for 4. Shubo Pal batted well too for his 31 off 37. Aqib Javeed bagged 2 for 25.

Brief Scores (Premier Division): AER International Trad. & Cont. 112 all out in 26.2 overs (Usama Aqeel 47 – 6×4, Sufyan Mahmood 5-39, Asif Khan 2-7, Mehdi Hasan 2-0) lost to Renaissance 118 for 4 in 22.4 overs (Sufyan Mahmood 32 – 1×4, 2×6, Shubo Pal 31 – 2×4, 1×6, Aqib Javeed 2-25) by 6 wickets.

Irfan, Rajesh star in Sunlight win

Hafiz Irfan and Rajesh Devashya were Sunlight’s heroes in an impressive 89-run win over Ernst & Young in a 50-over A Division League match at OC Turf 2 in Amerat on Friday.

Irfan led the batting honours with a fluent 61 followed by stylish 48 by Nasir and 46 by Rafique Mujib. Amandeep Singh picked up 3 for 43.

Ernst & Young was struggling at 54 for 4 in 9 before collapsing to 116 for 9 in 25. However, a 70-run last-wicket partnership between Masud Pervez (67 not out off 60) and Chadith Lakmal (8 off 23) helped salvage some pride as E&A scored 186 all out in 36.2 overs. Rajesh was the main destroyer with 5 for 36 whereas Irfan bagged 2 for 42.

Brief Scores (A Division): Sunlight 275 for 9 in 50 overs (Hafiz Irfan 61 – 6×4, Nasir 48 – 5×4, 1×6, Rafique Mujib 46 – 6×4, Madhur Bhatnagar 41 – 3×4, Amandeep Singh 3-43) beat Ernst & Young 186 all out in 36.2 overs (Masud Parvez 67 – 11×4, 2×6, Shrey Wilson 62 – 7×4, 3×6, Rajesh Devashya 5-36, Hafiz Irfan 2-42) by 89 runs.