Wednesday 15 / January / 2025
MUSCAT: Oman pace spearhead Bilal Khan’s superb 6 for 58 was the highlight of Oman Stallions’ nail-biting 1-wicket victory against Renaissance at OC Ground 2 in Amerat on Saturday as Premier Division’s 50-over League got off to a thrilling start with interesting results on Friday.
Aqib Ilyas struck an elegant 95 while Pruthvikumar Machhi contributed 46 in Renaissance’s 244 all out. While left-arm paceman Bilal Khan was outstanding with the ball, his new ball partner Rafiullah was no less impressive, taking 3 for 56 in his 10-over spell.
Stallions recovered from being 33 for 3 to reach 107 thanks to a solid 74-run fourth wicket partnership between Prasad Sankata (62 off 94) and Karan Sonavala (39 off 48). Mehran Khan’s fluent 54 off 57 kept the chase on track before three quick wickets landed the Stallions in trouble. However, experienced all-rounder Shakeel Ahmed held his nerves to steer his side to a last-over win with a valuable 28 not out including a smartly-managed 17-run partnership for the last wicket with Mundhir Qader who remained unbeaten at 0 off the only ball he faced.
Brief Scores (Premier Division): Renaissance 244 all out in 50 overs (Aqib Ilyas 95– 10x4, 2x6, Pruthvikumar Machhi 46 – 3x4, Bilal Khan 6-58, Rafi Ullah 3-56) lost to Oman Stallions 248 for 9 in 49.2 overs (Prasad Sankata 62 – 6x4, Mehran Khan 54 – 3x4, 3x6. Aqib Ilyas 3-39, Bilal Muhammad 3-57) by 1 wicket.
Majees thrashes IAS
In the day’s other game at OC Ground 1, new entrant Majees made its presence felt with a thumping 8-wicket win over IAS (Ibn Abdul Samad Engineering & Contracting), another new name in the Premier Division.
Majees’s star-studded bowling attack was too hot to handle for IAS as it folded up for a lowly 54 in 26.4 overs. Left-arm spinner Yagnik Pandya bagged 3 for 3 while Nester Dhamba, Khawar Ali and Ahmed Fayyaz Butt all claimed two wickets each.
Hammad Mirza was the only notable scorer with 18. Openers Chaminda Lakmal (30 not out) and Khurram Khan (22) helped Majees to a comfortable victory in just 6.1 overs.
Brief Scores (Premier Division): IAS 54 all out in 26.4 overs (Hammad Mirza 18 – 2x4, Nester Dhamba 9-2, Khawar Ali 2-10, Ahmad Fayyaz Butt 2-11) lost to Majees
56 for 2 in 6.1 overs (Chaminda Lakmal 30 – 2x4, 2x6, Khurram Khan 22 – 3x4, 1x6) by 8 wickets.
Khans help Muscat to victory
Earlier on Friday, Muscat CT’s mercurial Khans, Shoaib and Ayaan, powered their side to a solid 5-wicket win over Yalla Shabab at OC Ground 1. Ayaan’s 3 for 23 was the main reason Yalla Shabab was restricted to 200 for 9 in 50 overs though Rana Naeem bowled well too, taking 2 for 17 in 7 overs.
Muhammed Nadeem topscored with a typically stoic 58 off 70. Muscat’s chase was led by Shoaib’s brilliant 69 off 71 with Ayaan (33) and Suraj Kumar (46 not out) making useful contributions as Muscat overhauled the target in the 45 th over, scoring 201 for 5. Sanuth Ebrahim picked up 3 for 37.
Brief Scores (Premier Division): Yalla Shabab 200 for 9 in 50 overs (Muhammed Nadeem 58 – 2x4, 2x6, Ayaan Khan 3-23, Rana Naeem 2-17) lost to MUSCAT CT 201 for 5 in 44.5 overs (Shoaib Khan 69 – 6x4, 3x6, Suraj Kumar 46 – 4x4, 2x6, Ayaan Khan 33 – 2x4. Sanuth Ebrahim 3-37) by 5 wickets.
Sajeed, Zeeshan shine in AER win
In Friday’s second Premier Division game at OC Ground 2, Sajeed Ahmed and Zeeshan Siddiqui were the stars of AER’s comfortable 5-wicket victory against Arabian Region Travel and Tourism (ARTT).
In a forgettable start to the new season, ARTT was bundled out for a paltry 115 due largely to excellent bowling by Sajeed (3 for 25), Danish Mohammed (2 for 13), Aamir Kaleem (2 for 16) and Muzahir Raza (2 for 33). Muhammed Moshin topscored with 32.
Veteran Zeeshan’s 44 and Aamir Kaleem’s 27 were the highlights of AER’s 116 for 5 as it surpassed the small target in 29 overs.
Brief Scores (Premier Division): ARTT 115 all out in 49.1 overs (Muhammed Moshin 34 – 1x4, 1x6, Adeel Abbas 25 – 3x4. Sajeed Ahmed 3-25, Danish Mohammad 2-13, Aamir Kaleem 2-16, Muzahir Raza 2-33) lost to AER 116 for 5 in 29 overs (Zeeshan Siddiqui 44 – 3x4, Aamir Kaleem 27 – 4x4, 1x6) by 5 wickets.
