MUSCAT: Aaqib Javed and Wasim Ismail al Balushi took five wickets each to power Muscat Projects and Environment to an emphatic 49-run victory against National Youth Development Team (NYDT) in a Khimji Ramdas-sponsored A Division match at the Ministry of Sports grassy ground 2 in Al Amerat on Friday.
Fast bowlers had a field day as wickets tumbled every now and then in what was a low-scoring, high-octane game, testing not only the batsmen’s technique but their ability and resolve to stand on their feet and fight for their, and their team’s, survival.
Muscat Projects won the toss but lost all their wickets in the next 30 overs, to be all out for 116. Openers Praveen Das (30) and Jason Delboy (20) gave the team a decent opening stand of 44 but then the disaster struck as Muscat Projects slumped to 98 for 8 and finally folded up for 116.
NYDT pacers Mohammed Mohsin, Obaidullah and Abdul Malik caused much of the early damage but it was Hetham Bahar Ali who took four wickets to dash Muscat Projects’ hopes of revival.
Facing a small target, NYDT could last only 16 overs, getting bundled out for a meagre 67 that included 20 extras. No batsman, except captain Lakshan Madushanka (20), could even score in double figures against fast, swinging deliveries of Aaqib and Wasim who took five wickets each in straight 16 overs without change.
Brief score: Muscat Projects and Environment 116 all out in 30 overs (Praveen Das 30 – 2x4, 2x6, Jason Delboy 20 – 1x4. Hetham Bahar Ali 4-28, Mohammed Mohsin 3-26, Obaidullah 2-37, Abdul Malik 1-19) beat NYDT 67 all out in 16 overs (Lakshan Madushanka 20 – 3x4. Aaqib Javed 5-32, Wasim Ismail al Balushi 5-32) by 49 runs.
E&Y defeat MCS for first win
Ernst and Young (E&Y) finally ended its losing streak, defeating Muscat Cricket Sports (MCS) by three wickets in an Al Ansari Group-sponsored B Division battle of wooden-spoonists at Muscat Municipality ground 2 in Al Amerat.
Batting first, MCS were struggling at 60 for 4 before Mohsin Nazir once again came to its rescue with a steely 62 off 53 balls, helping the team to reach 191 for 8 in the stipulated 30 overs. Ahmed Khan (38), Abrar Hussain (25) and Ovais Karim (22 not out) were the other notable scorers. Pankaj Gupta and Vishak Jayakumar bagged four wickets each.
E&Y too found itself in trouble, losing four wickets at 78 but a stubborn 43 not out by Mohammed Nayaz helped the team to register its first win of the season with a good 27 deliveries still to be bowled. Vikram Verma (39) and Kiran Joshi (37) batted well too. Ovais Karim took three wickets for MCS.
Brief scores: MCS 191 for 8 in 30 overs (Mohsin Nazir 62 – 9x4, Ahmed Khan 38 – 3x4, Abrar Hussain 25 – 1x4. Pankaj Gupta 4-25, Vishak Jayakumar 4-36) lost to E&Y 192 for 7 in 25.3 overs (Mohammed Nayaz 43 not out – 5x4, Vikram Verma 39 – 4x4, Kiran Joshi 37 – 8x4. Ovais Karim 3-44) by three wickets.
Sufyan steers OCT
Seeb to victory
Star Omani all-rounder Sufyan Mahmood led OCT Seeb to a big 9-wicket win over Attic Outdoors in a Raha Poly Products-sponsored C Division clash at Muscat Municipality ground 1 on Friday.
Attic Outdoors’ innings was devoid of any momentum and authority as it could manage only 118 for 7 in 20 overs. Mohsin Raza (33), Madhur Bhatnagar (27) and Mujtaba Ahmed (22) were the notable scorers. Sameer al Balushi, Sufyan Mahmood and Yusuf al Balushi claimed two wickets each.
OCT Seeb raced to the target in just in just 9.3 overs, thanks to a swashbuckling 64 not out off 30 balls by Sufyan and 35 off 22 by his opening partner Issa al Balushi.
Brief scores: Attic Outdoors 118 for 7 in 20 overs (Mohsin Raza 33 – 4x4, Madhur Bhatnagar 27 – 3x4, Mujtaba Ahmed – 5x4. Sameer Al Balushi 2-06, Sufyan Mahmood 2-12, Yusuf al Balushi 2-23) lost to OCT Seeb 119 for 1 in 9.3 overs (Sufyan Mahmood 64 not out – 9x4, 2x6, Issa al Balushi 35 – 4x4, 1x6) by 9 wickets.
Geetha stars as ISC
eves down ISWK
A superb unbeaten half century by Geetha Jagdish helped Indian Social Club (ISC) to a 28-run victory against Indian School Wadi Kabir (ISWK) in a 20-over Women’s League match at Ministry of Sports grassy ground 2 in Al Amerat.
Batting first, ISC women scored 163 for 6 in 20 overs, Geetha (53 not out) and Caroline Pinto (22) being the notable scorers. Jayadhanya Gunasekar and Rajesh Shajina bagged two wickets each.
ISWK looked good initially but slowed down later to lose the game by 28 runs. Rajesh Shajina (42) and Akshadha Gunasekar (38) were involved in an 80-run partnership for the second wicket but got out in quick succession to derail their team’s chase.
Brief scores: ISC Women 163 for 6 in 20 overs (Geetha Jagdish 53 not out – 3x4, Caroline Pinto 22 – 1x4. Jayadhanya Gunasekar 2-12, Rajesh Shajina 2-30) beat ISWK 135 for 4 in 20 overs (Rajesh Shajina 42 – 5x4, Akshadha Gunasekar 38 – 3x4) by 28 runs.
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