Oman Cricket: OCT Muscat, Sinha record easy wins

Sports Sunday 21/January/2018 18:42 PM
By: Times News Service
Oman Cricket: OCT Muscat, Sinha record easy wins

Muscat: Talented Omani all-rounders Mohammed Ali Akbar Al Balushi and Shuaib Ismail Al Balushi powered OCT Muscat to a 94-run victory against National Youth Development Team (NYDT) in a Khimji Ramdas-sponsored A Division match at Ministry of Sports Affairs (MOS) Ground I in Al Amerat.
Shuaib and Mohammed were the main scorers in OCT Muscat’s total of 230 all out in 39.5 overs, scoring 42 and 39 runs respectively. Rafeeq Mohammed Al Balushi (31) and Faraz Al Balushi (23) also impressed with the bat. For NYDT, Syed Taha Hassan was once again brilliant with the ball, taking five wickets.
Reeling at 24 for four in the ninth over, NYDT never really recovered from early set-backs and were dismissed for a paltry 136 in the 38th over. Mohammed Mohsin (32) and Abdul Malik (25 not out) were the only notable scorers. Mohammed and Shuaib bowled exceptionally well, taking four and three wickets respectively.
Brief scores: OCT Muscat 230 all out in 39.5 overs (Shuaib Ismail Al Balushi 42, Mohammed Ali Akbar Al Balushi 39, Rafeeq Mohammed Al Balushi 31, Faraz Al Balushi 23; Syed Taha Hassan 5/36) bt NYDT 136 all out in 37.4 overs (Mohammed Mohsin 32, Abdul Malik 25 n.o.; Mohammed Ali Akbar Al Balushi 4/32, Shuaib Ismail Al Balushi 3/33).
Ashan inspires Sinha
Sinha CT rode on Ashan Fonseka’s excellent spell in which he took six wickets to sink Muscat Projects and Environment (MPE) by six wickets in another A Division clash at MOS Ground II.
Opting to bowl first, Sinha justified their decision by bowling MPE for only 138 in the 33rd over, thanks to Ashan’s brilliant bowling. Hirantha Baddage Don bowled well too, taking three wickets for 35 runs. Suraj Ravindran (45 off 73) and Sar-mad Shah Wazir (29 off 39) were the main scorers for MPE.
In reply, Sinha raced to their target in just 22.4 overs, scoring 139 for four. Dhammika Premadasa (49 not out off 39) and Nalinda Prasad (26 not out of 23) played the leading role in their side overhauling the total with ease.
Brief scores: Muscat Projects and Environment 138 all out in 33rd over (Suraj Ravindran 45, Sarmad Shah Wazir 29; Ashan Fonseka 6/40, Hirantha Baddage Don 3/35) lost to Sinha CT 139 for 4 in 22.4 overs (Dhammika Premadasa 49 n.o., Nalinda Prasad 26 n.o.).