Cricket: Asim, Jibran shine in IT Works emphatic win

Sports Tuesday 26/February/2019 16:45 PM
By: Times News Service
Cricket: Asim, Jibran shine in IT Works emphatic win

MUSCAT: Superb performances by Asim Kamal and Jibran Yousuf helped IT Works to a huge 138-run victory against Platinum Services Diamond (PSD) in an A Division encounter at Oman Cricket Ground 1 in Amerat on Saturday.
Invited to bat first, IT Works posted a robust 268 for 9 in 48 overs thanks to brilliant batting by Jibran Yousuf (59), Asgar Shaikh (56), Akmal Shahzad (42) and Mudassar Iqbal (30). Vineet Pal Singh and Chadith Lakmal took two wickets each.
IT Works bowled even better, dismissing PSD for only 130 in the 34th over. Asim Kamal led the way with a magnificent spell of 4 wickets for 27 runs. Ihtesham Muhammed and Khalid Rasheed bowled well too, taking three wickets each. Abrar Javed (33), Vineet Pal Singh (25) and Imran Rijvi (22) were PSD’s main scorers.
Brief scores: IT Works 268 for 9 in 48 overs (Jibran Yousuf 59 – 5x4, 2x6, Asgar Shaikh 56 – 7x4, 1x6, Akmal Shahzad 42 – 7x4, Mudassar Iqbal 30 – 3x4. Vineet Pal Singh 2-37, Chadith Lakmal 2-47) thrashed PSD 130 all out in 33.5 overs (Abrar Javed 33 – 2x4, 2x6, Vineet Pal Singh 25 – 1x4, 2x6, Imran Rijvi 22 – 3x4. Asim Kamal 4-27, Ihtesham Muhammed 3-28, Khalid Rasheed 3-38) by 138 runs.
Zawawi win
In another A Division game on Saturday, five wickets for 31 runs by Nishad K and a great all-round show by Banty Nandy powered Zawawi Powertech Engineering to an emphatic 6-wicket win over OCT Muscat at Oman Cricket ground 2.
OCT Muscat failed to post a significant total on the board and was dismissed for a meager 146 in the 30th over. Munthir Al Balushi (34) and Shoaib Ismail (25) were the only notable scorers. Apart from Nishad’s brilliant spell, Banty Nandy bowled equally well, claiming 4 for 41.
Zawawi raced to the target in only 27.1 overs, scoring 147 for 4 thanks to an unbeaten 66 by Vijeesh Velunni and a strokeful 37 by Banty Nandy.
Brief scores: OCT Muscat 146 all out in 29.2 overs (Munthir Al Balushi 34 – 4x4, 1x6, Shoaib Ismail 25 – 5x4. Nishad K 5-31, Banty Nandy 4-41) lost to Zawawi Powertech Engineering 147 for 4 in 27.1 overs (Vijeesh Velunni 66 not out – 9x4, 2x6, Banty Nandy 37 – 4x4, 2x6, Zubair Akbar 2-30) by 6 wickets.
Sajith stars for Jotun
Sajith Pillai struck a superb 72 off only 39 balls to lay the foundation for Jotun CT’s exciting 29-run victory against Aflag Group in a Junior Cup Knockout clash at Muscat Municipality ground 3 on Friday.
Jotun piled up 200 for 3 thanks to Sajith’s brilliant knock, followed by vital contributions by Pranav (35 not out) and Sanith Nair (33). Atif Jalali picked up two wickets.
Aflag Group fought well but fell short by 29 runs before being bundled out for 171 in 18.5 overs. Asgar Ali (35) and Hassan Mohammed (29) were its main scorers. Joby Abraham and Ratheesh Nair bagged two wickets each.
Brief scores: Jotun 200 for 3 in 19 overs (Sajith Pillai 72 – 12x4, 1x6, Pranav 35 not out – 1x4, 2x6, Sanith Nair 33 – 3x4. Atif Jalali 2-36) defeated Aflag Group 171 all out in 18.5 overs (Asgar Ali 35 – 5x4, 1x6, Hassan Mohammed 29 – 2x4, 1x6, Arnold Lewis 27 – 5x4. Joby Abraham 2-21, Ratheesh Nair 2-28) by 29 runs.