ACC U-16 event: Oman’s challenge ends in semifinals

Sports Saturday 13/January/2018 16:49 PM
By: Times News Service
ACC U-16 event: Oman’s challenge ends in semifinals

Muscat: Counting on its vast international exposure, the UAE proved to be the best junior side in the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Western Region Under-16 tournament, beating Kuwait by five wickets at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Friday.
Kuwait had reached the final defeating Oman in an 16-run victory in the semifinal on Thursday.
The final saw the two most experienced teams in the fray, with UAE getting the better of Kuwait in a relatively easier victory. Chasing Kuwait’s modest 137 for nine in 35 overs, UAE overhauled the total without much trouble, scoring 138 for 5 in 30 overs.
Earlier, Oman’s inability to bat freely cost them another game, this time the semifinal against Kuwait, after they had lost a group match to the UAE due to slow batting.
Oman’s Neev Jayaprakash Poojari topscored with a defiant 71 off 99 balls but received scant support from his teammates to take his side to a possible win.
Chasing Kuwait’s 168 for eight in 35 overs, Oman were in some trouble at 26 for two before a 66-run partnership between Neev and Prathamesh Santosh (34 off 54) stabilized the innings. However, after Prathamesh’s dismissal Neev ran out of quality support and had to bat cautiously to keep his team in the game. Ultimately, Oman ran out of overs and wickets too, getting all out for 152 in 35 overs.
Abdul Rehman and Abdul Sadiq claimed two wickets each.
Results
Kuwait U-16 168 for 8 in 35 overs (Abdul Sadiq 64, Govind Sunil Kumar 44; Yash Mehta 2/16) bt Oman U-16 152 all out in 35 overs (Neev Jayaprakash Poojari 71, Prathamesh Santosh 34; Abdul Rehman 2/22, Abdul Sadiq 2/32).
Kuwait U-16 137 for 9 in 35 overs (Gokul Sunil Kumar 50, Jandu Hamoud Amanullah 28; Aryan Lakra 2/16, Chathiya Dashan 2/19, Yuvraj J 2/26) lost to UAE U-16 138 for 5 in 30 overs (Muhammed A 41, Ronak Sudesh 30, 1x6, Shoun R 25; Abdul Rehman 2/22).