Muscat: Riding on a magnificent 15-ball 49 not out by Nurul Hasan, Bangladesh thrashed Oman by 60 runs in a warm up game ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup here at the Oman Cricket Academy Ground in Al Amerat on Friday.
Bangladesh batters looked in great touch and in perfect T20 mode to make an instant impact on the game, leaving Oman to chase a massive 208 to win. Openers Mohammad Naim and Liton Das struck elegant half centuries.
Having to score at more than 10 runs an over, the hosts wilted under intense pressure, managing to score only 147 for 9 in 20 overs. Rafiullah’s hurricane 31 off 14 including 4 sixes provided the late entertainment in a lost cause.
No Oman batsman stayed long enough to make a difference except Shoaib Khan who made a patient 43 off 39. Shoriful Islam and Mohammad Saifuddin bowled exceptionally well taking three and two wickets respectively.
In a clash of main teams, Oman will take on Sri Lanka in the second T20 game on Saturday.
Buoyed by a boisterous crowd in the stands, Bangladesh made merry against Oman’s second string side hitting a whopping 17 sixes in its score of 207 for 4.
The opening stand of 102 in 11 overs by Naim (63 off 53) and Das (53 off 33) set the tone for a massive assault in the next 9 overs. While Oman staged a bit of recovery by reducing Bangladesh to 124 for 4 by the 15th over, Nurul’s arrival on the crease brought about a dramatic change in the run of play. Hitting sixes at will, Nurul and Shamim Hussain smashed over 80 runs in the next 5 overs, 45 of which came off the last 12 balls. Nurul had hit 7 sixes while Shamim clubbed two over the fence.
Right-arm leg-spinner SamayShrivatava was the pick of Oman bowlers, taking 2 for 24 in his four-over spell while captain Aamir Kaleem bagged 2 for 39.
Brief scores: Bangladesh 207 for 4 in 20 overs (Mohammad Naim 63 retired hurt – 3x4, 2x6,Liton Das 53 – 6x4, 1x6, Nurul Hasan 49 not out – 7x6, Shamim Hossain 19 not out – 1x4, 2x6.Samay Shrivastava 2-24, Aamir Kaleem 2-39) beat Oman A 147 for 9 in 20 overs (Shoaib Khan 43 – 6x4, Rafiullah 31 – 1x4, 4x6, Mehran Khan 19 – 2x6Rauf Attaullah 19 – 3x4. Shoriful Islam 3-30, Mohammad Saifuddin 2-17) by 60 runs.
