Wednesday 24 / April / 2024
Muscat: A splendid 55-ball 96 not out by captain Suraj Kumar led Al Turki NMC to a thrilling four-wicket win over Enhance in a T20 Premier League game at the Ministry of Sports Affairs grassy ground in Al Amerat on Friday.
Batting first, Enhance posted a robust 168 for eight in 20 overs thanks to vital knocks by Sanuth Ibrahim (57 off 39), Khawar Ali (43 off 21) and Khurram Khan (27 off 23). Adnan-ul Haq was the most impressive of all bowlers, taking two for 24 in his four-over spell. Ajay Lalcheta also bagged two wickets for 37.
Al Turki got off to a shaky start losing three wickets for 26 before captain Suraj started to take control of the game, though wickets kept tumbling around him. Al Turki looked in serious trouble at 126 for six in 16 overs but Suraj got the support he needed from Jay Odedara (16 not out off 15) and guided his team to a memorable victory as his team scored 169 for six in 19.4 overs. Sanuth Ebrahim and Aqil Khan took two wickets each.
Brief scores: Enhance 168 for 8 in 20 overs (Sanuth Ebrahim 57, Khawar Ali 43, Khurram Khan 27; Adnan-ul Haq 2/24, Ajay Lalcheta 2/37) lost to Al Turki 169 for 6 in 19.4 overs (Suraj Kumar 96 n.o.; Sanuth Ebrahim 2/24, Aqil Khan 2/28).
Emphatic win for PTI
Earlier, Passage to India (PTI) stunned Assarain with an imposing 37-run victory in the morning game at the same venue. Invited to bat first, PTI scored 146 before being all out in 20 overs. Opener Kirmani topscored with brilliant 65 off 49 while Zeeshan Ahmed Siddiqui contributed 29 off 21. Kaleemullah and Sindo Michael bagged two wickets each while three of PTI batsmen were run out.
Facing defeat at 53 for five in the 10th over, Assarain couldn’t really recover and folded up for a dismal 109 in 17.2 overs. Muhammed Nadeem (32 off 24) and Arun Poulose (23 off 25) were the only notable scorers. PTI bowlers Mohammed Zahir Siddiqui and Ihsan Ullah Khan bowled superbly to claim three wickets each while Bilal Khan bagged two.
Brief scores: PTI 146 all out in 20 overs (Kirmani 65, Zeeshan Ahmed Siddiqui 29; Kaleemullah 2/27, Sindo Michael 2/32) bt Assarain 109 all out in 17.2 overs (Muhammed Nadeem 32, Arun Poulose 23; Mohammed Zahir Siddiqui 3/14, Ihsan Ullah Khan 3/17, Bilal Khan 2/12).
Salman Stores survives scare
Salman Stores snatched a last-ball win over Muscat Projects and Environment in a nail-biting finish of the A Division T20 match at the Ministry of Sports Affairs Ground II.
Asked to bat first, Muscat Projects posted 140 for nine in 20 overs. Praveen Das (30 off 28), Melwin Mathew (27 of 23) and Muhammed Waqas (25 off 19) were the main scorers. Muzammil Ilyas took two for 24.
It took Salman Stores a serious team effort to surpass the total, managing a last-ball win as it scored 144 for seven in 20 overs. Jahanzeb Asghar (35 off 32), Imran Asghar (29 off 29) and Tauseef Ahmed (unbeaten 22 off 13) were the leading scorers. Nowfal Rayammarakkar took two for 30.
Brief scores: Muscat Projects and Environment 140 for 9 in 20 overs (Praveen Das 30, Melwin Mathew 27, Muhammed Waqas 25; Muzammil Ilyas 2/24) lost to Salman Stores 144 for 7 in 20 overs (Jahanzeb Asghar 35, Imran Asghar 29, Tauseef Ahmed 22 n.o.; Nowfal Rayammarakkar 2/30).
Sinha sink Strikers
Ashan Fonseka’s three for 23 helped Sinha CT to a seven-wicket win against Glory Bower Strikers in another A Division T20 game at the same venue.
Batting first, Strikers scored 131 for nine in 20 overs. Shansudheen Shareef (36 off 26) and Manikandan Rajagopal (22 off 26) were the main scorers. Apart from Ashan’s brilliant spell, Hirantha Baddage Don bowled well too, taking two for 20.
Sinha raced to the target in 16.4 overs, scoring 133 for three thanks to Nalaka Pathum’s 34-ball 47, Chaminda Lakmal’s 45 off 36 and Mayura Prasad’s 30 off 21.
Brief scores: Glory Bower Strikers 131 for 9 in 20 overs (Shansudheen Shareef 36, Manikandan Rajagopal 22; Ashan Fonseka 3/23, Hirantha Baddage Don 2/20) lost to Sinha CT 133 for 3 in 16.4 overs (Nalaka Pathum 47, Chaminda Lakmal 45, Mayura Prasad 30).
