Thursday 25 / April / 2024
MUSCAT: Munis Ansari and Jatinder Singh put Muscat CT’s Premier Division campaign back on track with an exciting 4-wicket win against Al Turki NMC at the Ministry of Sports grassy ground 1 in Al Amerat on Thursday.
Muscat had lost its first two games but bounced back into contention thanks to match-winning performance by its senior stars.
Batting first, Al Turki was bowled out for 165 in 48.2 overs. Jay Odedara topscored with a patient 43 off 80. Suraj Kumar (40 off 83) and Twinkle Bhandari (25 off 28) were the other notable scorers. Munis caused much of the damage in his second spell when Al Turki was cruising along at 129 for 4 in 35 overs. He struck three quick blows, reducing Al Turki to 138 for 8, derailing what looked like a race to a healthy total. Ayaan Khan claimed two wickets to wrap up its innings for a modest score.
Muscat found itself in a similar mess, struggling at 79 for 5 in the 24th over but Jatinder’s arrival turned things around and a 79-run 7th wicket partnership with Sandeep Goud saw his team to victory. Jatinder remained not out on 57 off 75 while Sandeep scored an unbeaten 18 off 48 in Muscat’s 169 for 6 in the 47th over.
Brief scores: Al Turki NMC 165 all out in 48.2 overs (Jay Odedara 43 – 2x4, Suraj Kumar 40 – 4x4. Munis Ansari 4-35, Rajushkumar Ranpura 3-36, Ayaan Khan 2-34) lost to Muscat CT 169 for 6 in 46.3 overs (Jatinder Singh 57 not out – 7x4, 1x6, Shoaib Khan 28 – 2x4. Jay Odedara 2-30) by 4 wickets.
Aqib, Bilal shine for PTI
In another Premier Division game on Friday, Passage to India (PTI) continued to impress with another emphatic win, beating Enhance by a massive 170 runs at the same ground.
Invited to bat first, PTI posted a healthy 252 for 9 in 50 overs with Aqib scoring a fluent 72 off 69 balls. Pruthvikumar Machhi (56 off 88) and Muhamed Sajjad Ali (28 off 28) batted well too. Nestor Dhamba picked up 4 wickets for 60 runs while Wasim Ali bagged 3 for 27.
Facing PTI’s quality new-ball attack of Bilal Khan, Muhammed Bilal and Ahmed Fayyaz Butt, Enhance folded up for a paltry 82 in 25.5 overs. Only Mehran Khan (21 off 26) made a noteworthy score. Khan claimed 4 for 21 while Butt and Bilal bagged three and two wickets respectively.
Brief scores: PTI 252 for 9 in 50 overs (Aqib Ilyas 72 – 6x4, 1x6, Pruthvikumar Machhi 56 – 4x4, Muhammed Sajjad Ali 28 – 2x4, 1x6. Nestor Dhamba 4-60, Wasim Ali 3-27) thrashed Enhance 82 all out in 25.5 overs (Mehran Khan 21 – 2x4. Bilal Khan 4-21, Ahmed Fayyaz Butt 3-25. Muhammed Bilal 2-17) by 170 runs.
Rasheed stars for IT Works
Veteran Khalid Rasheed worked up his old magic with a 4-wicket haul as IT Works trounced Glory Bower Strikers in a low-scoring thriller at MOS grassy ground 2 on Friday.
Batting first, Strikers were dismissed for a dismal 42 in 17.2 overs. Apart from Rasheed, pacers Muzammil Ilyas and Muzammil Ahmad claimed three wickets each.
IT Works raced to the target in the seventh over but not before losing five wickets. Joshin Vincent bowled well to take 3 for 22.
Brief scores: Glory Bower Strikers 42 all out in 17.2 overs (Khalid Rashed 4-19, Muzammil Ilyas 3-09, Muzammil Ahmad 3-14) lost to IT Works 43 for 5 in 6.2 overs (Joshin Vincent 3-22) by 5 wickets.
