Oman stay unbeaten after rain rules out result against Hong Kong

KUALA LUMPUR: Oman continued to stay unbeaten in the Asia Cup Qualifiers as its rain-hit group game against Hong Kong resulted in the two teams getting one point each after the washout here.
Chasing Oman’s modest 183, Hong Kong was happily placed at 25 for no loss in 5 overs when it started pouring in and the players had to leave the ground. No further play was possible and the game was finally abandoned after a few hours’ wait.
Leading the team standings with seven points from five matches, Oman will now take on the second-placed UAE in a must-win game on Tuesday after Monday’s rest day in its last group game. If Oman loses to UAE its chances to reach the final on Thursday, September 6 will then largely depend on the outcome of Tuesday’s other game between Hong Kong and Nepal who currently occupy third and fourth places respectively on the table.
Asked to bat first, Oman found itself in big trouble, teetering at 52 for 4 in the 18th over and then in deeper mess at 75 for 7 in the 28th over. However, a 96-run eighth wicket partnership between all-rounders Muhammed Nadeem and Ahmed Fayyaz Butt lent Oman’s total some respectability and a chance to wage a decent fight. Nadeem top-scored with 54 off 93 balls which included three hits to the fence and a six while Butt posted 50 off 76, also hitting three boundaries and a huge six.
Ehsan Nawaz bagged 4 for 39 to emerge as the main wicket-taker for Hong Kong while Aizaz Khan and Ehsan Khan claimed two wickets each.
Hong Kong openers Christopher Carter and Anshuman Rath was batting well at 14 off 21 and 5 off 9 when rain forced the play to stop.
Brief scores: Oman 183 all out in 50 overs (Muhammed Nadeem 54 – 3x4, 1x6, Ahmed Fayyaz Butt 50 – 3x4, 1x6, Vaibhav Wategaonkar 19 – 1x4). Hong Kong 25 for no loss in 5 overs (Christopher Carter 14 not out – 1x4, 1x6). No result due to rain.