Monday 09 / June / 2025
MUSCAT: Sandeep Goud’s golden arm continued to fetch vital wickets while Jatinder Singh started middling the ball with the effortless ease again as Muscat CT stretched its unbeaten run to eight games with emphatic wins over Renaissance and Arm Alpha in Premier Division T20 League at OC Turf 1 in Amerat over the weekend.
Muscat, which has 16 points, may still win the title even if it loses its remaining two matches. Second-placed Renaissance has 12 points but has played out its 10 games while IT Works carries 10 points from 8 matches so far.
In Saturday’s game, Renaissance was bundled out for 88 on Saturday, Sandeep picking up 3 for 5. Spinners Samay Shrivastava and Wasim Ali bowled well too, taking two wickets each. Rafi Ullah topscored with 28.
Jatinder led the chase with a strokeful 48 not out as Muscat surpassed the total in only 12.2 overs, scoring 92 for 2. Shoaib Khan contributed a fluent 28.
Brief scores: Premier Division T20 League): Renaissance 88 all out in 16.4 overs (Rafi Ullah 28 – 4x4, 2x6. Sandeep Goud 3-05, Samay Shrivastava 2-12, Wasim Ali 2-21) lost to Muscat CT 92 for 2 in 12.2 overs (Jatinder Singh 48 not out – 6x4, 1x6, Shoaib Khan 28 – 3x4) by 8 wickets.
Shoaib stars in Muscat win
Earlier on Friday, Shoaib Khan’s sparkling 69 was the highlight of Muscat’s 161 for 6 against Arm Alpha. Sanuth Ebrahim and Bilal Khan bagged two wickets each. Alpha failed to bat well against Muscat’s in-form bowlers, folding up for a dismal 76 in 15.1 overs. Leg-spinner Samay Shrivastava was the pick of Muscat bowlers, taking 3 for 5 whereas Wasim Ali and Sandeep Goud claimed two wickets each in impressive spells.
Brief Scores (Premier Division T20): Muscat CT 161 for 6 in 20 overs (Shoaib Khan 69 – 8x4, 1x6, Sanuth Ebrahim 2-21, Bilal Khan 2-26) beat Arm Alpha 76 all out in 15.1 overs (Nalinda Prasad 32 – 6x4, 1x6, Samay Shrivastava 3-05, Wasim Ali 2-07, Sandeep Goud 2-15) by 85 runs.
IT Works routs Renaissance for vital win
Oman all-rounder Khawar Ali was instrumental in IT Works’ vital 4-wicket win over Renaissance, setting up what could well be a Premier Division 50-over League’s title clash against table-topper Muscat CT in their tenth and final game on Friday, March 12.
While Muscat has 16 points from 9 games with 8 wins, an emphatic victory on Friday could result in second-placed IT Works, which has 14 points from 9 games with 7 wins, walk away with the trophy on better net run rate if Renaissance upset third-placed Al Turki NMC the next day. If Al Turki, which also has 14 points from 9 matches with 7 wins, prevails with a big margin, the title winner would be decided on net run rate. However, the T20 winner’s trophy goes to Muscat if it beats IT Works, taking its tally to unsurpassable 18 points. Renaissance was dismissed for 110 in 36 overs, Shakeel Ahmed taking 3 for 8 with Khawar Ali and Muhammed Nadeem claiming two wickets each. Khawar is now the tournament’s leading bowler with 20 wickets followed by Nadeem who has taken 19 wickets so far.
It took IT Works only 19.1 overs to seal the win, scoring 113 for 6. Zeeshan Maqsood struck 38 while Khawar contributed 25.
Brief Scores (Premier Division 50-over League): Renaissance 110 all out in 36 overs (Abdul Rauf 24 – 2x4, 1x6, Shubo Pal 24 – 4x4. Shakeel Ahmad 3-08, Muhammed Nadeem 2-20, Khawar Ali 2-26, Imran Muhammad 2-31) lost to IT Works 113 for 6 in 19.1 overs (Zeeshan Maqsood 38 – 6x4, 1x6, Khawar Ali 25 – 3x4. Asif Khan 3-7, Muhammad Bilal 3-33) by 4 wickets.
Twinkal stars in Al Turki win
Leading from the front, Twinkal Bhandari slammed a sparkling 81 not out to steer Al Turki NMC to a vital 5-wicket victory against AER on Saturday. AER was restricted to 151 for 9 as Jay Odedara picked up 3 for 14 in his 10-over spell that included six maiden overs. Afzal Khan remained not out at 58 off 111 balls.
Al Turki secured victory in the 23 rd over, scoring 154 for 5 thanks to Twinkal’s superb knock. Amanpreet Singh and Muzahir Raza bagged two wickets each.
Brief scores (Premier Division 50-over League): AER 150 for 9 in 50 overs (Afzal Khan 58 not out – 8x4, Muzahir Raza 19 – 3x4. Jay Odedara 3-14, Hemalkumar Tandel 2-52) lost to Al Turki NMC 154 for 5 in 22.5 overs (Twinkal Bhandari 81 not out – 11x4, 1x6, Akshaykumar Patel 21 – 1x4, 2x6. Amanpreet Singh 2-29, Muzahir Raza 2-34) by 5 wickets.
