Oman Cricket: Enhance beat Muscat, Sinha sink IT Works

Muscat: Enhance continued to close gap on leaders Assarain, beating Muscat CT by two wickets in a Muscat Pharmacy-sponsored Premier Division clash at Ministry of Sports Affairs Ground I in Al Amerat.
The two sides were without some of their main players, who are currently on tour with Oman national team.
However, confident of chasing down any total, Enhance invited Muscat CT to bat first, letting a see-saw battle start between two fierce opponents. Aware of the importance of this particular game, Muscat compiled a robust 232 for nine in 50 overs.
Ayaan Khan topscored with a brilliant 76 off 84. Ashish Odedara (57 off 86) and Sudeep Chavan (34 off 65) were the other notable scorers.
Nester Dhamba claimed three wickets while Mehran Khan took two for Enhance.
In reply, Enhance got off to a solid start and were cruising at 207 for four before four quick wickets pushed them on the back foot for a while. However, tailenders Ibrahim Kutty (six not out) and Allan Gawdya (11 not out) held their nerves to guide Enhance to a vital victory in the final over as they scored 235 for eight. Wasim Ali led the way with 78 off 98 while Sanuth Ibrahim (48 off 53) and Noorul Riaz (34 off 45) made vital contributions with the bat.
Jaspreet Singh and Ayaan Khan bagged two wickets each for Muscat.
Enhance has now moved to second spot with 26 points behind Assarain who lead the table with 31 points from 10 games each. Muscat are currently third with 22 points from 10 matches.
Brief scores: Muscat CT 232 for 9 in 50 overs (Ayaan Khan 76, Ashish Odedara 57, Sudeep Chavan 34; Nester Dhamba 3-37, Mehran Khan 2-39) lost to Enhance 235 for 8 in 49.4 overs (Wasim Ali 78, Sanuth Ibrahim 48, Noorul Riaz 34, Jaspreet Singh 2-37, Ayaan Khan 2-41).
Sinha trounce IT Works
A superb five-wicket spell by Niluka Kandaddarage powered Sinha to a comforta-ble eight-wicket victory against IT Works in a Khimji Ramdas-sponsored A Division match at MOS Ground II.
Opting to field first, Sinha bowled IT Works for a paltry 132 in the 35th over. Only Akmal Shahzad showed some resistance with 48 off 85. Niluka bagged five wick-ets for 23 while Ashan Fonseka claimed two.
Sinha raced to their target in the 19th over, scoring 137 for two thanks to Chaminda Lakmal’s brilliant 51 not out off 42 balls. Rangajeeva Perera (36 off 26) and Manusingha Senevirtne (28 not out off 28) batted well too.
Brief scores: IT Works 132 all out in 34.4 overs (Akmal Shahzad 48, Niluka Kandaddarage 5-23, Ashan Fonseka 2-36) lost to Sinha 137 for 2 in 18.5 overs (Chaminda Lakmal 51 n.o., Rangajeeva Perera 36, Manusingha Senevirtne 28 n.o.).