MUSCAT: Assarain and Passage to India (PTI) started their T20 Premier League campaign on a winning note, beating Muscat CT and Al Turki NMC respectively at the Ministry of Sports grassy ground 1 in Al Amerat on Friday.
In another game on Saturday, Enhance eased past Muscat CT with a 5-wicket win at the same venue.
Having clinched the 50-over league title, Assarain’s winning streak continued with a convincing 7-wicket victory against Muscat. Opting to bowl first, Assarain restricted Muscat to a modest 123 for 8 in 20 overs. Ayaan Khan and Sandeep Goud scored 35 off 27 and 19 off 17 respectively. Shakeel Ahmed and Sindo Michael took two wickets each.
With a well-oiled battery of stroke-makers, Assarain raced to the target in just 15.2 overs, scoring 126 for the loss of 3 wickets. Opener Zeeshan Maqsood slammed 39 off 29 while Sami Ur Rehman (28 not out off 20), Shahan Akram (24 off 18) and Gustav Burger (24 not out off 21) made notable contributions. Badal Singh bagged two wickets.
Brief scores: Muscat CT 123 for 8 in 20 overs (Ayaan Khan 35 – 2x4, 2x6, Sandeep Goud 19 – 1x6. Shakeel Ahmed 2-19, Sindo Michael 2-21) lost to Assarain 126 for 3 in 15.2 overs (Zeeshan Maqsood 39 – 6x4, 1x6, Sami Ur Rehman 28 not out – 2x4, 1x6, Shahan Akram 24 not out – 3x4, Gustav Burger 24 – 2x4, 1x6. Badal Singh 2-20) by 7 wickets.
Amir Kaleem stars
in PTI win
Batting first after winning the toss, PTI posted 155 for 8 in 20 overs thanks to useful knocks by Sultan Ahmed (39 off 33), Syed Amir Ali (33 off 17) and Muhammed Sajjad Ali (32 off 26). Gopendra Bohara was bowled well to claim three wickets while Jay Odedara bagged two.
Al Turki got off to a good start, scoring 60 for 1 in the 10th over before a dramatic collapse saw them reeling at 69 for 5 in the 12 over. PTI did not allow them to recover and Al Turki could manage only 137 for 7 in 20 overs. Twinkle Bhandari contributed 35 off 30 while Jigneshbhai Patel and Gulam Shaikh scored 29 off 26 and 28 off 29 respectively. Syed Amir Kaleem was the main wicket-taker with figures of 4 for 30.
Brief scores: PTI 155 for 8 in 20 overs (Sultan Ahmed 39 – 6x4, Syed Amir Ali 1x4, 3x6, Muhammed Sajjad Ali 32 – 5x4, 1x6. Gopendra Bohara 3-20, Jay Odedara 2-27) beat Al Turki NMC 137 for 7 in 20 overs (Twinkle Bhandari 35 – 3x4, 1x6, Jigneshbhai Patel 29 – 2x4, Gulam Shaikh 3x4. Syed Amir Kaleem 4-30) by 18 runs.
Khawar, Sufyan help Enhance to victory
Inviting Muscat to bat first, Enhance bowled them out for 141 in 19.4 overs with Khawar Ali taking 3 for 16. Vaibhav Wategaonkar was the only notable scorer with 52 off 39.
Struggling at 44 for 3 in the 7th over, Enhance recovered through an unbeaten 46 off 35 by Omani star Sufyan Mahmood who guided his team to victory with a fluent knock. Enhance overhauled the total in 18 overs, scoring 143 for 5. Unnikrishnan scored a run-a-ball 29. Jaspreet Singh claimed two wickets.
Brief scores: Muscat CT 141 all out in 19.4 overs (Vaibhav Wategaonker 52 – 1x4, 2x6. Khawar Ali 3-16) lost to Enhance 143 for 5 in 18 overs (Sufyan Mahmood 46 not out – 3x4, 1x6. Unnikrishnan 29 – 2x6. Jaspreet Singh 2-35) by 5 wickets.
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