Oman post second win over UAE

MUSCAT, MARCH 9

Oman posted their second straight win against hosts United Arab Emirates in their ICC Men's Cricket World Cup League 2 ODI series at the ICC Academy in Dubai on Wednesday.

The win consolidated Oman's position on top of the table with 34 points from 26 matches.

In their opening match, Oman had beaten UAE by 12 runs, while they lost by 110 runs to Namibia in the second match of the series.

Ten more matches remain for Oman as the top three teams will enter the final round of qualifiers for the ODI World Cup in Zimbabwe in June-July 2023.

The UAE (14 points from 13 matches) are third behind Scotland, who have 16 points from 12 matches.

All-rounder Khawar Ali was the main architect of the victory with 63 runs and two wickets.

Chasing Oman's modest total of 221-7 in 50 overs, the UAE ended short of eight runs in 48.3 overs.

Medium pacer Fayyaz Butt was the pick of Oman bowlers with figures of 3-23. Fayyaz also took the last wicket by trapping Junaid Siddique leg before to end the challenge of the hosts.

Leg-spinner Khawar bowled brilliantly taking two wickets for 37 runs in his 10 overs.

With the last pair on the crease the UAE required 12 from 10 balls at one stage.

Earlier, Oman won the toss and elected to bat first.

Oman started slowly with openers Kashyap Prajapati and Jatinder Singh putting on 43 runs for the first wicket. Jatinder lost his wicket when he was caught by Vriitya Aravind off the bowling of Zohoor Khan at 11.

New batsman Shoaib Khan also didn't last long when he was run out for 12. Prajapati then was trapped leg before by Basil Hameed for 44 as Oman slipped to 3-73.

Captain Zeeshan Maqsood then started the rescue act with Khawar but the skipper was out for 20 leaving Oman at 102-4.

Ayaan Khan came in next and added valuable 77-run partnership with Khawar for the fifth wicket.

UAE struck back through Zahoor Khan when he removed Khawar after a well-made 63 (78 balls) with the help of eight boundaries.

In the 47th over, Zahoor dealt a twin blow to Oman after sending back Naseem Khushi (1) and Ayaan (33) in two balls as Oman reached 190-7.

Sandeep Gaud (21) and Fayyaz Butt (9) batted sensibly in the remaining deliveries as Oman posted a decent 221 for 7 in the 50 overs.

Zahoor was best among UAE bowlers taking 4-51 in his 10 overs.

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In reply, UAE lost their first wicket at 22 when Shoaib Khan caught opener Muhammad Waseem off Bilal Khan in the fifth over.

Opener Chirag Suri and Vriitya added 77 runs in their partnership before the 19-year-old departed for 29. Khawar took the wicket as Aravind's sloppy drive was caught by Sandeep Gaud.

Chundangapoyil Rizwan (15) was run out next as UAE slipped to 4-140 in 29.3 overs.

Fayyaz took the key wicket of Suri later as the hosts only added six runs more to the total.

Suri scored 63 runs from 87 balls with the help of eight boundaries.

Kaleemullah bowled Asif Khan for 6 leaving UAE at 156-6 in the 38th over.

Basil Hameed made a good effort to score 25 but was bowled by Fayyaz as Oman got back the momentum in 44th over with UAE score at 184-6.

Khawar's 45th over saw big-hitter Kashif Daud (2) run-out after brilliant fielding by Ayaan. Next ball, UAE captain Ahmad Raza was stumped while going forward by wicketkeeper Khushi, putting the hosts at 187-8 in 44.2 overs.

Zeeshan trapped Zahoor leg before in the first ball of 47th over as UAE lost their ninth wicket for 199 runs.

All-rounder Rohan Mustafa remained not out on 23 but ran out of partners as Fayyaz's yorker ended the fight of UAE eight runs short with Junaid lbw for 5.