Assarain edge Muscat in thriller, OCT Seeb down PDO

Sports Saturday 20/January/2018 18:24 PM
By: Times News Service
Assarain edge Muscat in thriller, OCT Seeb down PDO

Muscat: Defending champions Assarain rode on Sindo Michael’s match-winning all-round show to beat never-say-die Muscat CT in a crucial Muscat Pharmacy-sponsored Premier Division thriller at Ministry of Sports Affairs Ground I in Al Amerat on Friday.
Assarain are now sitting pretty at the top with 31 points from 10 games with Enhance and Muscat hot on their heels with 22 points each from nine matches.
Invited to bat first, Assarain found the going tough against some tight bowling by Muscat CT which showed their aggressive intent from the very beginning. The middle order collapse pushed Assarain in deep trouble as it slumped to 109 for 6 after being happily placed at 98 for two. Losing two more wickets 12 runs later meant Assarain was on the verge of getting dismissed for less than 150.
However, a fighting 86-run ninth wicket partnership between Sindo Michael (60 not out off 81) and Vinukumar Gopalakrishnan (32 off 49) pulled the team out of the woods as Assarain finished their quota of 50 overs at 224 all out, giving themselves a healthy chance of stretching their lead at the top.
For Muscat, Baadal Singh was brilliant with the ball, taking three wickets for just 16 runs in 10 overs, five of which were maiden. Ayaan Khan and Rajeshkumar Ranpura also bagged three wickets each.
Determined to claim vital points to stay in the championship fray, Muscat CT got off to a decent start, 63 for one in 13 overs, before they ran into inform Sindo Michael again. Three quick wickets in the next 10 overs saw Muscat struggling at 89 for four. However, a 51-run partnership for the fifth wicket between captain Vaibhav Wategaonkar (39 off 65) and Ayaan Khan brough Muscat back into the game.
After Vaibhav’s departure, Ayaan took the fight to Assarain almost single-handedly, scoring a valiant 76 off 71 balls before he became Sindo’s fourth victim of the day. Muscat ran out of steam after his fall, managing 221 for nine in 50 overs. Apart from Sindo’s superb spell, Muhammed Nadeem bowled well too, taking two wickets for 46.
Brief scores: Assarain 224 all out in 50 overs (Sindo Michael 60 n.o., Zeeshan Maqsood 53, Sami-ur Rehman 33, Vinukumar Gopalakrishnan 32; Baadal Singh 3/11, Ayaan Khan 3/30, Rajeshkumar Ranpura 3/37) bt Muscat CT 221 for 9 in 50 overs (Ayaan Khan 76, Vaibhav Wategaonkar 39, Swapnil Khadye 28, Jatinder Singh 24; Sindo Michael 4/47, Muhammed Nadeem 2/46).
Yousuf lifts OCT Seeb
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Utilising his big-hitting prowess to the maximum, star Omani batsman Yousuf Rahim Al Balushi slammed 36-ball 77 not out to power OCT Seeb to an exciting five-wicket victory against PDO in a crucial Raha Poly Products-sponsored C Division clash at Muscat Municipality Ground III.
Unbeaten so far, OCT Seeb are among the favourites to win C Division title.
Opting to bowl first after winning the toss, title contender OCT Seeb did well to restrict PDO to 149 for four in 20 overs. Abdul Naveed was once again the topscorer for PDO, hitting up a 40-ball 51. Rajesh Khetani (44 not out off 29) and Naveed Ahmed (20 not out off 14) made useful contributions.
Reeling at 54 for four, OCT Seeb were rescued by Yusuf’s belligerent knock that included three towering sixes. Finally, the all-Omani side won the game in the final over, scoring 154 for five in 19.4 overs. Sufyan Mahmood contributed 34 off 31. Rajesh Khetani claimed two wickets for PDO.
Brief scores: PDO 149 for 4 in 20 overs (Abdul Naveed 51, Rajesh Khetani 44 n.o., Naveed Ahmed 20 n.o.) lost to OCT Seeb 154 for 5 in 19.4 overs (Yousuf Rahim Al Balushi 71 n.o., Sufyan Mahmood 34; Rajesh Khetani 2/22).