Saturday 20 / April / 2024
Muscat: Teams having champions with never-say-die spirit in their ranks can always turn the tables on their opponents at any stage of the game. Assarain did just that in their Premier Division opening encounter, posting a come-from-behind victory against a resurgent Al Turki which had them in a pickle for much of the innings before an explosive knock by Naseem Khushi sealed the game’s fate at the Ministry of Sports Ground I.
Naseem’s 58-ball unbeaten 80 included just two fours but seven towering sixes as hapless Al Turki watched in horror. Chasing a modest target of 159 to win, Assarain were teetering at 26 for four and then 60 for seven before Naseem arrived at the crease and began the amazing counter attack.
Displaying his big-hitting prowess that earned him a spot in the national team, Naseem was involved in an unbroken 101-run eighth-wicket partnership with all-rounder Sindo Michael who provided him vital support with a 90-ball 35. Playing for Oman, Naseem had scored a 30-ball 77 against Malaysia in Uganda last year.
Opting to bowl first on a grassy pitch after winning the toss, Assarain exploited the conditions suitable to seam bowling, reducing Al Turki to 91 for six by the halfway stage. It took a few lusty blows by Yogesh Patel to see Al Turki reach a total of 158 before being all out in 45.2 overs.
Apart from Yogesh (28), Suraj Kumar (27) and skipper Twinke Bhandari (24) were the other notable scorers. Seamer Kaleemullah and spinner Shiju Shylajakumar bowled well to claim three wickets each. Muhammed Nadeem, Sindo Michael and Shahan Akram bagged one wicket each.
Assarain found the going tough as Al Turki bowlers kept things tight from the very outset with seamer Gopendra Bohara and left-arm spinner Ajay Lalcheta reducing the defending champions to 25 for four, taking two wickets each.
Finally, thanks to a Naseem’s late onslaught, Assarain surpassed the total in 42.5 overs at 161 for seven.
Brief scores: Al Turki 158 all out in 45.2 overs (Yogesh Patel 28, Suraj Kumar 27, Twinkle Bhandari 24; Shiju Shylajakumar 3/26, Kaleemullah 3/28) lost to Assarain 161 for 7 in 42.5 overs (Naseem Khushi 80, Sindo Michael 35; Ajal Lalcheta 2/24, Gopendra Bohara 2/34).
Shehbaz lifts GB Strikers
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Middle-order batsman Shehbaz Nasar stroked a stylish 136 to script a huge146-run victory for Glory Bower Strikers in their A Division match against IT Works at Ministry of Sports Ground II.
IT Works’ decision to bowl first after winning the toss backfired as Strikers batted with authority to post an imposing total of 301 all out in 48.4 overs, thanks to a superb knock by Shehbaz whose 136 came off just 112 balls with eight huge sixes. Opener Ramesh Kinarath was impressive too in his aggressive knock of 50 off 38 balls.
Wasim Akhtar led the bowling honours for IT Works with three wickets for 40 while Amir Hussain, Hassan M and Ihtesham Muhammed bagged two wickets apiece.
Facing a big total, IT Works found the going tough and folded up for just 155 in 34.5 overs. Only Shahid Naseem (57) and Akmal Shahzad (32) showed some resistance. Anup Rajan bowled well to claim three wickets for 23 while Aadil Mohammed took three wickets for 26.
Brief scores: Glory Bower Strikers 301 all out in 48.4 overs (Shehbaz Nasar 136, Ramesh Kinarath 50; Wasim Akhtar 3/40, Amir Hussain 2/39, Hassan M 2/62, Ihtesham Muhammed 2/72) bt IT Works 155 all out in 34.5 overs (Shahid Naseem 57, Akmal Shahzad 32; Anup Rajan 3/23, Aadil Mohammed 3/26).
Sajeed stars for PSD
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A solid unbeaen 54 by Sajeed Ahmed saw Platinum Services Diamond (PSD) beat Muscat Cricket Sports (MCS) by three wickets in a B Division game at Muscat Municipality Ground II in Al Amerat on Friday.
Chasing a target of 176 to win, Platinum recovered from an early setback, when they lost opener Manjit Singh for nought, to launch a steady chase. Opener Ahmed Mumtaz played an entertaining knock of 47 off 23 balls including three big sixes. Later Sajeed (54 not out) and Imran Rijvi Ayoob (26) in a 60-run partnership for the fourth wicket steered them to safety before they reached the target in 25.2 overs, losing seven wickets in the process. Ahmed Khan and Mohsin Nazir claimed two wickets each for 27 and 41 runs respectively.
Earlier electing to bat first, MCS could manage only 175 for nine in the stipulated 30 overs despite opener Syed Kazimi’s fluent 69 off 71 balls. Ahmed Khan played a cameo late down the order with an impressive 36 off 31 balls. Mahid Ali chipped in with a quickfire 23 off 17 balls. Aftab Ahmed bagged three wickets for 18 while Chadithlakmal and Karim too two wickets each.
Brief scores: Muscat Cricket Sports 175 for 9 in 30 overs (Syed Kazimi 69, Ahmed Khan 36, Mahid Ali 23; Aftab Ahmed 3/18, Chadith Lakmal 2/38, Karim 2/40) lost to Platinum Services Diamond 176 for 7 in 25.2 overs (Sajeed Ahmed 54 n.o., Ahmed Mumtaz 47, Imran Rijvi Ayoob 26, Ahmed Khan 2/27, Mohsin Nazir 2/41).
