Oman Cricket: PTI upset Assarain, NYDT and MCCC win

Sports Saturday 03/February/2018 16:57 PM
By: Times News Service
Oman Cricket: PTI upset Assarain, NYDT and MCCC win

Muscat: Passage to India (PTI) stunned defending champion Assarain in a nine-wicket upset win to make the championship race for the Muscat Pharmacy-sponsored Premier Division more interesting.
Despite the loss, Assarain remain on top with 31 points from 11 matches with only one game left against Al Turki. Enhance and Muscat CT are close behind with 26 and 22 points respectively from 10 games each. It can’t get closer than that as one more loss for Assarain may mean a new Premier Division champion this season.
Asked to bat first, Assarain, without three of their main players who are on national duty, had a forgettable outing and were dismissed for a paltry 152 in 45 overs. Sami-ur Rehman (34 off 43), Shiju Shylajakumari (34 off 53) and Sindo Michael (30 off 66) were the main scorers. Syed Amir Kaleem led the bowling honours with a four-wicket haul while Muhammed Zahir Siddiqui bagged three.
PTI raced to the target in just 22.1 overs, scoring 154 for one thanks to Rana Safeer Tariq’s unbeaten 72 off 57 balls. Fellow opener Muhammed Sajjad Ali slammed a run-a-ball 68.
Brief scores: Assarain 152 all out in 45 overs (Sami-ur Rehman 34, Shiju Shylajakumari 34, Sindo Michael 30; Syed Amir Kaleem 4/20, Muhammed Zahir Siddiqui 3/34, Ihsan Ullah Khan 2/16) lost to PTI 154 for 1 in 22.1 overs (Rana Safeer Tariq 72 n.o., Muhammed Sajjal Ali 68).
All-rounders lift NYDT
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National Youth Development Team (NYDT) rode on brilliant performances by Adeel Abbas, Ubaidullah and Adil Abbas Ali to upset Renaissance by six wickets in a Khimji Ramdas-sponsored A Division clash at the Ministry of Sports Affairs Ground II in Al Amerat.
Batting first, Renaissance failed to capitalise on a decent start and slumped to 161 for eight after being 103 for three in the 22nd over.
In the end, 167 was all it could manage before being bowled out in the 41st over. Kurukulasuriya Sajith topscored with 46 off 49 while openers Robins Barmeda and Nisal Fernando contributed 33 and 29 respectively. Adeel Abbas bowled exceptionally well to claim four wickets. Adil Abbas Ali and Mohammed Mohsin bagged two wickets each while Ubaidullah took one.
NYDT were struggling at 46 for three before a 120-run fourth wicket partnership between Ubaidullah (69 not out off 93) and Adil Abbas Ali (51 off 52) helped the team to a comfortable win in the 30th over. Kurukulasuriya Sajith took two wickets.
Brief scores: Renaissance 167 all out in 40.1 overs (Kurukulasuriya Sajith 46, Robins Barmeda 33, Nisal Fernando 29; Adeel Abbas 4/27, Adil Abbas Ali 2/24, Mohammed Mohsin 2/31) lost to NYDT 170 for 4 in 29.3 overs (Ubaidullah 69 n.o., Adil Abbas Ali 51; Kurukulasuriya Sajith 2/25).
Ali inspires MCCC New
MCCC New got the better of Ernst & Young (EY) with a five-wicket victory in an Al Ansari Group-sponsored B Division game at Muscat Municipality Ground I.
Batting first, EY were bundled out for 163 in 27.4 overs. Amanpreet Singh (30 off 27) and Mohammed Nayaz (28 off 32) were the notable scorers. Swapneel Girker, Rajan Berry and Mohammed Samir bagged two wickets each.
MCCC New overhauled the target in 23.3 overs, scoring 167 for five thanks to a superb unbeaten 73 off 54 balls by Ali Asgar Saifee. Neev Poojari contributed a valuable 34 off 33 down the order. Pankaj Gupta took two wickets.
Brief scores: EY 163 all out in 27.4 overs (Amanpreet Singh 30, Mohammed Nayaz 28; Swapneel Girker 2/14, Rajan Berry 2/17, Mohammed Samir 2/26) lost to MCCC New 167 for 5 in 23.3 overs (Ali Asgar Saifee 73 n.o., Neev Poojari 34; Pankaj Gupta 2/30).