Sunday 12 / October / 2025
Muscat: Oman launched their Super Six campaign in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Asia/East Asia Pacific (EAP) Qualifier with a confident 34-run win over Qatar at the Oman Cricket Academy Ground in Al Amerat on Sunday, powered by a captain’s knock from Jatinder Singh and a disciplined bowling effort.
After being sent in to bat, Oman posted a competitive 172 for six from their 20 overs, thanks to Jatinder’s blistering 66 off 40 balls, studded with seven boundaries and three sixes. After the fall of opener Ashish Odedara in the first over, the skipper set the tone early, attacking the Qatari pacers with intent before falling in the 15th over to Qatar captain Mirza Baig, who was Qatar’s standout bowler.
Nadeem Khan and Hammad Mirza perished in between as Oman found themselves in trouble at 53 for three midway through the innings. The middle order, however, provided strong support — Aryan Bisht (34 off 24) played a fluent hand, while wicketkeeper Vinayak Shukla’s unbeaten 30 off 15 balls gave the innings a perfect finish.
Bisht and Jatinder, who deservedly won the player of the match award, shared a crucial 55-run fourth-wicket stand off just 34 balls to give the team stability, before Bisht forged another 45-run partnership with the in-form Shukla to push Oman past the 150-mark. However, a double-strike by Baig in the 19th over curtailed Oman’s late surge, restricting them to 172 for six.
Baig’s four-wicket haul (4 for 28) was the only bright spot in an otherwise expensive bowling card for Qatar.
Qatar’s reply began with promise but soon unraveled under mounting pressure. They were restricted to 138 for nine in their 20 overs. Shariq Munir (34), Muhammad Asim (21) and Shahzaib Jamil (21 off 14) offered resistance, but regular breakthroughs derailed their chase.
Oman’s bowlers operated with precision and variety. Medium pacer Jitenkumar Ramanandi was the pick of the attack, claiming 3 for 22, including two wickets in successive deliveries to remove Jamil and Daniel Louis in the 19th over.
He was well supported by fellow medium pacer Sufyan Mehmood (2 for 26), who pulled off a terrific caught-and-bowled to dismiss Muhammad Tanveer. Spinners Nadeem Khan (1 for 19) and Shakeel Ahmed (1 for 23), along with opening bowler Shah Faisal (1 for 33), also chipped in as Qatar faltered against a disciplined attack.
Oman’s fielding, too, was sharp — highlighted by Shukla’s smart glovework to send back Asim and a sharp run-out by Hammad Mirza to remove opener Imal Liyanage, which set the tone early in the defence.
Oman’s victory took them to four points from two wins, including the one carried forward from the group stage against fellow Super Six qualifier Samoa.
Duleep Mendis’ men will next face UAE on Monday (October 13), followed by Nepal on Wednesday (October 15) and Japan on Friday (October 17).
Brief scores: Oman 172/6 in 20 overs (Jatinder Singh 66, Aryan Bisht 34, Vinayak Shukla 30*; Mirza Baig 4/28) beat Qatar 138/9 in 20 overs (Shariq Munir 34, Muhammad Asim 21, Shahzaib Jamil 21; Jitenkumar Ramanandi 3/22, Sufyan Mehmood 2/26).
