Saturday 27 / April / 2024
Muscat: Assarain and Passage to India (PTI) started their T20 Premier League campaign on a winning note, beating Muscat CT and Al Turki NMC respectively at the Ministry of Sports Affairs Ground I in Al Amerat on Friday.
In another game on Saturday, Enhance eased past Muscat CT with a five-wicket win at the same venue.
Having clinched the 50-over league title, Assarain’s winning streak continued with a convincing seven-wicket victory against Muscat.
Opting to bowl first, Assarain restricted Muscat to a modest 123 for eight in 20 overs. Ayaan Khan and Sandeep Goud scored 35 off 27 and 19 off 17 respectively. Shakeel Ahmed and Sindo Michael took two wickets each.
With a well-oiled battery of stroke-makers, Assarain raced to the target in just 15.2 overs, scoring 126 for the loss of three wickets.
Opener Zeeshan Maqsood slammed 39 off 29 while Sami-ur Rehman (28 not out off 20), Shahan Akram (24 off 18) and Gustav Burger (24 not out off 21) made notable contributions. Badal Singh bagged two wickets.
Brief scores: Muscat CT 123 for 8 in 20 overs (Ayaan Khan 35, Sandeep Goud 19; Shakeel Ahmed 2/19, Sindo Michael 2/21) lost to Assarain 126 for 3 in 15.2 overs (Zeeshan Maqsood 39, Sami-ur Rehman 28 n.o., Shahan Akram 24 n.o., Gustav Burger 24; Badal Singh 2/20).
Amir Kaleem stars for PTI
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Batting first after winning the toss, PTI posted 155 for eight in 20 overs thanks to useful knocks by Sultan Ahmed (39 off 33), Syed Amir Ali (33 off 17) and Muhammed Sajjad Ali (32 off 26). Gopendra Bohara bowled well to claim three wickets while Jay Odedara bagged two.
Al Turki got off to a good start, scoring 60 for one in the 10th over before a dramatic collapse saw them reeling at 69 for five in the 12 over. PTI did not allow them to recover and Al Turki could manage only 137 for seven in 20 overs. Twinkal Bhandari contributed 35 off 30 while Jigneshbhai Patel and Gulam Shaikh scored 29 off 26 and 28 off 29 respectively. Syed Amir Kaleem returned with bowling figures of four for 30.
Brief scores: PTI 155 for 8 in 20 overs (Sultan Ahmed 39, Syed Amir Ali 33, Muhammed Sajjad Ali 32; Gopendra Bohara 3/20, Jay Odedara 2/27) bt Al Turki NMC 137 for 7 in 20 overs (Twinkal Bhandari 35, Jigneshbhai Patel 29; Gulam Shaikh 29; Syed Amir Kaleem 4/30).
Khawar, Sufyan lift Enhance
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After electing to field first, Enhance bowled out Muscat CT for 141 in 19.4 overs with Khawar Ali taking three for 16. Vaibhav Wategaonkar was the only notable scorer for Muscat with 52 off 39.
Struggling at 44 for three in the seventh over, Enhance recovered through an unbeaten 46 off 35 by Omani star Sufyan Mahmood who guided his team to victory with a fluent knock. Enhance overhauled the total in 18 overs, scoring 143 for five. Unnikrishnan scored a run-a-ball 29. Jaspreet Singh claimed two wickets.
Brief scores: Muscat CT 141 all out in 19.4 overs (Vaibhav Wategaonker 52; Khawar Ali 3/16) lost to Enhance 143 for 5 in 18 overs (Sufyan Mahmood 46 n.o., Unnikrishnan 29; Jaspreet Singh 2/35).
