Oman Cricket: Muscat CT defeat PTI, Enhance upset Assarain

Sports Sunday 11/March/2018 14:21 PM
By: Times News Service
Oman Cricket: Muscat CT defeat PTI, Enhance upset Assarain

Muscat: Ayaan Khan continued to win games for Muscat CT, this time taking four wickets in his side’s vital six-wicket victory against Passage to India (PTI) in a Premier Division T20 game at the Ministry of Sports Affairs Ground I on Saturday.
Invited to bat first, PTI managed to reach 139 for nine in 20 overs thanks to a late onslaught by Syed Amir Ali who scored a quickfire 25 off nine balls, including three huge sixes.
Arbaz Qureshi topscored with a 37-ball 50. Ayaan played a key role in keeping PTI in check, claiming four wickets for 27.
Facing a modest total, Muscat raced to the target in 16.2 overs, scoring 140 for four. Vamshi Vadthya slammed a 24-ball 40 while Swapnil Khadye scored 36 off 28. Arbaz Qureshi bowled well too, taking two for 21.
Brief scores: PTI 139 for 9 in 20 overs (Arbaz Qureshi 50, Syed Amir Ali 25; Ayaan Khan 4/27) lost to Muscat CT 140 for 4 in 20 overs (Vamshi Vadthya 40 n.o., Swapnil Khadye 36, Vaibhav Wategaonkar 22; Arbaz Qureshi 2/21).
Aqil shines for Enhance
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In an afternoon game at the same venue, Enhance inflicted a 20-run defeat on Assarain, making it a miserable weekend for the 50-over league champions who had also lost their opening match to PTI on Friday.
Batting first, Enhance struggled for momentum but still managed to score 137 for eight in 20 overs. Ahmed Fayyaz Butt provided the late impetus with a strokeful 35 not out off 22. Sanuth Ebrahim contributed 29 off 22.
Vinukumar Gopalakrishnan and Muhammed Nadeem bagged two wickets each for Assarain.
Assarain made a mess of chasing what was a modest total, getting dismissed for a meagre 117 in 19.5 overs. Shahan Akram was the only batsman to have had a decent stay on the crease, scoring a run-a-ball 40. Enhance bowlers Aqil Khan (four for 19), Sufyan Mahmood (three for 21) and Sanuth Ebrahim (two for 15) bowled brilliantly to fetch their side a memorable win.
Brief scores: Enhance 137 for 8 in 20 overs (Ahmed Fayyaz Butt 35 n.o., Sanuth Ebrahim 29; Vinukumar Gopalakrishnan 2/17, Muhammed Nadeem 2/18) bt Assarain 117 all out in 19.5 overs (Shahan Akram 40; Aqil Khan 4/19, Sufyan Mahmood 3/21, Sanuth Ebrahim 2/15).
Enhance Eagles rout NYDT
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Meanwhile, in an A Division game played at the Ministry of Sports Affairs Ground II on Saturday, MDC Enhance Eagles rode on Aneermon Abdulrahman’s 41-ball 62 not out to thrash National Youth Development Team (NYDT) by eight wickets.
Asked to bat first, NYDT scored 140 for seven in 20 overs. Syed Taha Hassan topscored with 48 off 39 while Lakshan Madushanka (38 off 34) and Ubaidullah (24 off 25) also made useful contributions with the bat. Pranav Mehta and Flourry Methunny George took two wickets each.
Eagles had no trouble chasing the target, scoring 141 for two in 16.4 overs. Apart from Aneermon’s match-winning knock, Pradeep Kumar (44 off 37) and Pranav Mehta (unbeaten 22 off 17) batted well too.
Brief scores: NYDT 140 for 7 in 20 overs (Syed Taha Hassan 48, Lakshan Madushanka 38, Obaidullah 24; Pranav Mehta 2/18, Flourry Methunny George 2/30) lost to MDC Enhance Eagles 141 for 2 in 16.4 overs (Aneermon Abdulrahman 62 n.o., Pradeep Kumar 44, Pranav Mehta 22 n.o).
Faizal lifts Renaissance
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In another A Division T20 game, Faizal Jerome’s magnificent all-round show powered Renaissance CT to an exciting four-wicket victory against Muscat Projects and Environment at the same venue.
Asked to bat first, Muscat Projects was all out for 126 in 19.5 overs. Vijeesh Channengadan was the only notable scorer with 42 off 41. Faizal Jerome bagged three for 19 while Kurukulasuriya Sajith and Amith Eranda took two wickets each.
Faizal Jerome excelled with the bat too, contributing a match-winning 51 off 40 as Renaissance scored 130 for six in 18 overs. Muhammed Waqas claimed two for 25.
Brief scores: Muscat Projects and Environment 126 all out in 19.5 overs (Vijeesh Channengadan 42; Faizal Jerome 3/19, Kurukulasuriya Sajith 2/13, Amith Eranda 2/33) lost to Renaissance CT 130 for 6 in 18 overs (Faizal Jerome 51; Muhammed Waqas 2/25).