Saturday 27 / April / 2024
Muscat: Assarain capped another season of their dominance in the Oman Cricket Premier Division Twenty20 competition with back to back victories. After sealing the title with a comfortable victory over Enhance Oman on Friday, Assarain put an icing on the cake of their title celebrations with a comprehensive win over Muscat CT on Saturday. The unbeaten champions ended the T20 season with 28 from maximum available points of 30 and an all-win record.
Their 49-run win over Enhance Oman at the Ministry of Sports of Affairs Ground I on Friday had ensured Assarain retained the T20 crown they first lifted in the inaugural edition during the last season.
Assarain stamped their authority on Enhance thanks to an all-round team effort, the highlight of which was a whirlwind 40-run knock off just 11 balls by Naseem Khushi.
After electing to bat first, Assarain were given a good start by opening batsmen Zeeshan Maqsood and Arun Poulose, the former scoring 33 off 24 with two fours and two sixes and the latter making 45 in 36 with four fours and two sixes.
Later, Gustav Burger and Mohammed Nadeem contributed 32 and 22 runs respectively. But it was Naseem Kushi’s swashbuckling knock that powered Assarain to a total of 184 for six in 20 overs. Naseem Kushi’s 11-ball 40-run innings included four fours and three sixes.
For Enhance, Vishnu Mohandas claimed four wickets while Sufyan Mahmood and Nester Dhamba took one wicket each.
Assarain then restricted Enhance to 135 for nine in 19.2 overs with Kaleemullah and Sindo Michael taking three wickets each. Mohammed Nadeem and Ahmed Raza claimed one apiece.
Khawar Ali with 32 runs was the top scorer for Enhance while Babar Ali, Noorul Riaz and Nester Dhamba contributed 31, 25 and 21 respectively.
Icing on the cake
On Saturday, Assarain defeated Muscat CT by nine wickets. After electing to field first, Assarain bowled out Muscat for 108 in 18.4 overs with Mohammed Nadeem claiming three wickets and Shahan Akram and Zeeshan Maqsood taking two each. Aaqib Sulheri was the top scorer for Muscat with 30 runs.
In reply, Assarain raced to 109 in just 12.4 overs, losing only one wicket in the process. Zeeshan Maqsood smashed an unbeaten 51 off 30 balls with three fours and three sixes. Arun Poulose made 47 in 30 balls with four fours and three sixes.
Brief scores: Assarain 184 for 6 in 20 overs (Arun Poulose 45; Vishnu Mohandas 4/22) bt Enhance Oman 135 for 9 in 19.2 overs (Kaleem Ullah 3/18). Points: Enhance Oman – 0, Assarain – 5.
Brief scores: Muscat CT 108 in 18.4 overs (Aaqib Sulheri 30; Mohammed Nadeem 3/24) lost to Assarain 109 for 1 in 12.4 overs (Zeeshan Maqsood 51 n.o., Arun Poulose 47).
