OCT Ruwi crowned All-Omani Tournament Champions

Muscat: OCT Ruwi cruised to a 115-run victory over OCT Al Hail ‘A’ in the All-Omani Tournament Final, held at the Oman Cricket Academy on April 21, 2022.

With 5 wins in 5 matches, OCT Ruwi were the competition’s most dominant force. Their opponents on the night came out on the right side of a Net Run Rate tussle to advance from a group of 3 teams and went on to defeat OCT Muscat to book their place in the final.

Put to bat first, OCT Ruwi’s top order clicked into gear once more. Mohammed Al Balushi and Wasim Ismail Mohamed Al Balushi forged a 79-run opening stand before the latter was dismissed in the 9th over. However, there was no respite in sight for OCT Al Hail ‘A’ as newcomer Shuaib Ismail Al Balushi combined with Mohammed for a destructive 97-run partnership that effectively sealed the contest in the first innings. The skipper’s dazzling, unbeaten 81-run knock took OCT Ruwi to a mammoth 206/4 after 20 overs. Mohammed finished on a well-made 64.

In response, OCT Al Hail ‘A’ could only manage 91/9 in their 20. Abdul Jalil Al Balushi led the scoring with 22 runs while Abdul Ghani Al Balushi, Faris Said Al Zadjali and Hisham Shafi Hisham chipped in with double-figure totals. Ali Akbar Mohamed Al Balushi and Zubair Ali Akabr Al Balushi starred for OCT Ruwi with the ball. They combined for 7 wickets, with individual figures of 4/8 and 3/5.

Simultaneously on Turf 2, OCT Seeb challenged OCT Muscat for 3rd spot in what was a much more competitive encounter.

Batting first after winning the toss and led by a 61-run knock from their captain Abbas Al Balushi, OCT Seeb made their way to 135/10 in 19.1 overs. OCT Muscat’s Shaed Ali Al Balushi and Akbar Qader Baksh claimed 3 scalps each.

The run chase went right down to the wire, with OCT Muscat clinching victory off the very last ball. 35, 33 and 28 run contributions from Munthir Al Balushi, Rashad Al Balushi and Majid Hussein Doshambeh Al Balushi set the foundation upon which Waheed Al Balushi and Sadiq Al Balushi applied the finishing touches.

In the awards distribution ceremony held post final, Pankaj Khimji, Chairman Oman Cricket and Duleep Mendis, Head Coach and Chief Development Officer Oman Cricket handed out the competition’s Best Batsman and Best Bowler awards to Majid Hussein Doshambeh Al Balushi of OCT Muscat and Zubair Ali Akabr Al Balushi of OCT Ruwi respectively. The former finished as the tournament leading run-getter with 239 in 5 outings while the latter topped the wicket-taking charts with 15 over the same duration.

Mohammed Al Balushi and Shuaib Ismail Al Balushi, both of OCT Ruwi, took home the Player of the Tournament and Player of the Final awards respectively.

BRIEF SCORES:

OCT Ruwi 206/4 in 20 overs (Shuaib Ismail Al Balushi 81(40) 7 x 4, 5 x 6 Mohammed Al Balushi 64(45) 2 x 4, 5 x 6 ; Nadhir Ghulam 37/1) beat OCT Al Hail ‘A’ 91/9 in 20 overs (Abdul Jalil Al Balushi 22(21) 3 x 4, 1 x 6 ; Ali Akbar Mohamed Al Balushi 8/4 Zubair Ali Akabr Al Balushi 5/3) by 115 runs OCT Seeb 135/10 in 19.1 overs (Abbas Al Balushi 61(46) 9 x 4 ; Shaed Ali Al Balushi 17/3 Akbar Qader Baksh 19/3) lost to OCT Muscat 139/4 in 20 overs (Munthir Al Balushi 35(36) 3 x 4 ; Amir Attaullah Al Balushi 25/1) by 6 wickets