Sri Lanka overcome Oman challenge

Haridev Pushparaj -

Oman put up a giant effort to challenge former T20 World Cup champions and Test-playing Sri Lanka but eventually went down fighting by 19 runs in their build up for the ICC T20 World Cup in the first T20 at the Oman Cricket Academy ground, Al Amerat, here on Thursday.

After Sri Lanka stacked up 162/4 riding on a sensational 111-run unbeaten fifth-wicket partnership between Avishka Fernando (83 n.o.) and skipper Dasun Shanaka (51 n.o.), Oman put up a strong fight in the later stages of the game but in hindsight lost too many wickets in the first 12 overs of the match to finish at 143/8 in 20 overs.

Naseem Khushi (40, 2x4, 4x6) and Mohammad Nadeem (32) brought palpable excitement to the sizable crowd present at the venue with some big-hitting in the last two overs but Sri Lanka had the game in their grasp right till the end.

After Nadeem was picked up by Lahiru Kumara, who ended with match-winning figures of 4/30, Oman’s chase was almost over.

Earlier, Oman’s chase for a historic victory against Sri Lanka was off to a horror start as they lost Kashyap Prajapati and Aqib Ilyas to be reeling at 10/2.

Nuwan Pradeep was the chief wrecker taking both the wickets with some penetrative bowling.

Oman had an uphill task when Lahiru Kumara snuffed out Jatinder Singh after a caught behind effort by Dinesh Chandimal.

When skipper Zeeshan Maqsood was claimed by Kumara off a catch by Dananjaya, Oman’s task looked even more herculean at 23/4 after the end of the powerplay overs.

Ayaan Khan had attempted to put on some resistance but that did not last for long. In the 12th over, Chamika Karunaratne picked up Ayaan for 23 to further dent Oman’s improbable hopes.

BRILLIANT START

However, Oman had a brilliant start to the game as they shocked the much fancied Lankans with two wickets inside the first couple of overs of the Sri Lankan innings.

Ahmed Fayyaz Butt starred as he scalped Dinesh Chandimal with a regulation caught behind and Kamindu Mendis was sent packing for a golden duck plumb in front.

Kaleemullah caused problems with his height and extracted copious amounts of bounce but new Lankan batsman Avishka Fernando showed positive intent.

Pathum Nissanka was taken out by Kaleemulah as the former went for a big one over long off and ended up holing into the hands of mid-off Zeeshan Maqsood.

At 21/3 after the end of the powerplay, Oman was smelling blood in their quest to put it past the established Sri Lankan team.

Oman had an opportunity to make things worse for Sri Lanka but Bhanuka Rajapaksa was dropped by Jatinder Singh off Mohammad Nadeem at 35/3.

Rajapaksa and Fernando were looking to stitch together a partnership when it was broken by Khawar Ali as the Lankans slumped to 51/4.

Thereafter, skipper Dasun Shanaka and the in-form Fernando took the attack to Oman with some lusty blows that set the tone for the Lankans.

Fernando reached a well-deserved half-century off just 45 balls that was the crucial cog in the shaky Sri Lankan batting line-up.

Sri Lanka’s 100 came in 16.2 overs and Fernando and Shanaka aimed at a score of 135-140 to challenge Oman.

Nadeem was slammed for two superb sixes by the red-hot Fernando as the Lankans really started to get a move on.

Kaleemullah was carted for a huge six off the square leg boundary by Fernando as Oman started feeling the heat.

To add salt to the wounds, Fernando was dropped off the very next ball.

Shanaka then got into the act as he punished Nadeem for two huge sixes in the first two balls of the 19th over.

Shanaka’s six off the fourth ball of the 20th over brought up the 100-run partnership between the captain and Fernando.

It was raining sixes as he blasted another six and a four as Sri Lanka wrapped up their innings at 162/4. It was a tremendous effort by Fernando and Shanaka after they appeared to lose their way at 51/4.

Brief scores: Sri Lanka 162 for 4 in 20 overs (Avishka Fernando 83 not out – 3x4, 5x6, Dasun Shanaka 51 not out – 2x4, 5x6. Ahmed Fayyaz Butt 2-42) beat Oman 143 for 8 in 20 overs (Naseem Khushi 40 – 2x4, 4x6, Mohammad Nadeem 32 – 1x4, 2x6, Ayaan Khan 23 – 2x4, 1x6. Lahiru Kumara 4-30, Nuwan Pradeep 2-07, Chamika Karunaratne 2-28) by 19 runs