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EDITOR IN CHIEF- ABDULLAH BIN SALIM AL SHUEILI

Sri Lanka sweep series with fighting win over Oman

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Muscat: Sri Lanka survived some early scares to beat Oman by five wickets in the second Twenty20 international at Al Amerat ground on Saturday night.


Chasing 160 for a victory, the Lankans reached the target in 17.3 overs.


With the victory, Sri Lanka claimed both the Twenty20 matches played as part of warm-up ahead of the T20 World Cup in Oman.


Oman will start their World Cup campaign with the opening match of Group B against PNG on October 17.


Sri Lanka will play their Group A matches in Abu Dhabi. Avishka Fernando who hit 33 runs from 18 balls was adjudged the man of the match.


Earlier, Sri Lanka won the toss and invited Oman to bat.


Aqib Ilyas was the top-scorer for Oman with a well-made 60 from 38 balls. Ilyas also had the favour of some dropped catches by the Sri Lankan fielders.


Other contributors for Oman were Kashyap Kumar (22 from 19 balls) and Ayaan Khan (20 from 26 balls).


For Lanka, Lahiru Kumara and Chamika Karunaratne claimed two wickets apiece.


Oman lost first wicket when star opener Jatinder Singh was bowled by Binura Fernando in the third over with the score at 15.


Kashyap Prajapati made a 19-ball 22 before he was caught and bowled by Chamika Karunaratne to make it 2-36 in the sixth over.


Oman lost their third wicket when they lost captain Zeeshan Maqsood, whose misjudged shot in the air was well taken by Maheesh Theekshana with a diving effort.


Fernando collected his second wicket in the process to put Oman at 75-3.


Oman completed their 100 runs in 13 overs with Aqib Ilyas and Ayaan Khan in the crease.


Sri Lanka dropped some catches in the middle as well.


Aqib’s shot in the air was dropped in the 15th over and Oman picked up two runs.


After 15 overs, Oman were 112 for 3.


AQIB HITS 50


Aqib hit a straight six in 16th over and then took a double to complete his eventful 50.


Another six brought fetched 17 runs from the over.


But Aqib’s innings ended when he hit straight to Shanaka in the bowling of Karunaratne.


The right-handed batter faced 38 balls which included three fours and four sixes.


Lahiru Kumara wrecked Oman middle order when he first bowled a well-set Ayaan and then accounted for the wicket of Naseem Khushi with score at 142 for 6.


All-rounder Mohammad Nadeem was run-out next when a direct throw from Avishka Fernando left him short of crease at the bowler’s end without any addition to the total score.


After 19 overs, Oman were 153 for seven wickets.


In the last over, Sandeep Gaud holed out to Avishka Fernando at the boundary ropes who made brilliant judgement to keep the ball inside.


Oman posted 159 for 8 in the 20 overs.


In reply, Sri Lanka made a good start but Dinesh Chandimal was dismissed for 18 and Oman checked the flow of runs as opener Pathum Nissanka also perished in effort to raise the run-rate.


The visitors collapsed in the middle overs when they lost three wickets in space of eight balls.


Sri Lanka reached 100 in the 13th over for the loss of five wickets.


Chamika Karunaratne and Bhanuka Rajapaksa steadied the boat and their 74-run partnership from 44 balls ensured a smooth passage to victory for the former T20 world champions.


Karunaratne sealed the win with a towering six against Kaleemullah with 15 balls to spare.


Brief scores: Oman 159 for 8 in 20 overs (Aqib Ilyas 59 – 3x4, 4x6, Kashyapkumar Prajapati 22 – 1x4, 2x6, Ayaan Khan 20, Zeeshan Maqsood 16 – 2x6. Lahiru Kumara 2-20, Chamika Karunaratne 2-39) lost to Sri Lanka 163 for 5 in 17.3 overs (Bhanuka Rajapaksa 35 not out – 2x6, Chamika Karunaratne 35 not out – 3x6, Pathum Nissanka 26 – 3x4, Dinesh Chandimal 18 – 1x4, 2x6; Mohammad Nadeem 2-22) by 5 wickets.


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