Friday 18 / April / 2025
Muscat: With the qualification battle for the ICC T20 World Cup intensifying, Oman staked its own claim to participation in cricket’s showpiece event on Wednesday, reclaiming the Group B top spot with an emphatic 7-wicket win over Nigeria in Dubai.
Nigeria had no clue to Amir Kaleem’s spin and Bilal Khan’s pace before being dismissed for only 71 in the last over.
Player of the match Kaleem was once again the pick of the bowlers, taking 4 for 14 while Khan bagged 3 for only 7 runs. In a desperate bid to improve its net run rate, Oman overhauled the target in just 7 overs, racing to 72 for 3 thanks to a blistering 48 off 22 by opener Jatinder Singh.
In its upcoming tougher group games, Oman will take on fancied Canada on Friday and Jersey on Sunday, concluding the group stage which will decide the semifinals.
Brief scores: Nigeria 71 all out in 19.5 overs (Daniel Ajekun 16 – 2x4. Amir Kaleem 4-14, Bilal Khan 3-07, Khawar Ali 1-12) thrashed by Oman 72 for 3 in 7 overs (Jatinder Singh 48 – 9x4, 1x6, Khawar Ali 13 – 1x4, 1x6) by 7 wickets.
