MUSCAT: Oman beat the United Arab Emirates by 12 runs in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 match at the ICC Academy in Dubai on Saturday.
Put to bat after losing the toss, an 85-run fourth-wicket partnership between Shoaib Khan and Ayaan Khan provided the foundation for Oman to build on. Shoaib top-scored with an 89 ball 61 and the pair consolidated remarkably well after the early dismissals of both openers.
However, both were sent back in the space of four overs to place the UAE in command once again. Rohan Mustafa provided the initial breakthrough with Ayaan’s wicket and Zahoor Khan claimed the prized scalp of Shoaib. The two of them were UAE’s top performers with the ball, picking up two and three wickets respectively.
A 35-run contribution from captain Zeeshan Maqsood to go with Sandeep Goud’s 22 took Oman past the 200 mark. They eventually finished on 225/7 after 50 overs.
In response, the hosts were bundled out for 213. Vriitya Aravind, who claimed three catches along with a stumping in the first innings, top scored with a 65-ball 44.
Kaleemullah was imperious in the powerplay for Oman. He sent the dangerous opening pair of Muhammad Waseem and Chirag Suri packing for a combined score of 12. Ayaan Khan,
Mohammad Nadeem and Khawar Ali all picked up one middle-order wicket apiece but undoubtedly the star with the ball was Bilal Khan, who cleaned up the UAE lower order all on his own. He finished with figures of 5/31 in 9.5 overs.
A lack of meaningful partnerships proved costly for the UAE. Chundangapoyil Rizwan, Asif Khan and Rohan Mustafa all got starts but none of them crossed the 25-run mark. Basil Hameed and Ahmad Raza did so but were unable to play a match-defining knock like Shoaib Khan had done in the first innings. Oman on the other hand were disciplined in the field and with the ball in hand, clinching a deserved victory in the end.
Oman 225/7 in 50 overs (Shoaib Khan 61 (89) 3 x 4 ; Zahoor Khan 55/3) beat UAE 213 all out in
48.5 overs (Vriitya Aravind 44 (55) 5 x 4; Bilal Khan 31/5) by 12 runs
