MUSCAT: The Amerat Royals maintained their perfect start in the D10 tournament with a 49-run victory over the Darsait Titans at the Oman Cricket Academy Ground on March 15, 2022.
Electing to bat first after winning the toss, the Royals made 175-4 at the end of their 10 overs - the highest team total of the D10 series so far. Pratik Athavale and Akshaykumar Patel performed a demolition job, erecting a 112-run opening stand in just 5.4 overs.
The Titans picked up 4 wickets in the space of two overs in the middle to slow the scoring rate down but a 33-run blitz by Vinayak Shukla at the death ensured that the Royals effectively went into the dressing room at half-time with the game in their pocket.
In the second innings, Oman captain Zeeshan Maqsood - whose solitary over in the first innings was devoured for 27 runs - smashed a 21-ball 54.
Ubaid Ullah looked good for his 29. Khurram Khan and Sachin Kumar Jagra were the other batters to reach double figures. But ultimately, the asking rate was far too high and the Titans finished on 126-5 after 10 overs.
Amanpreet Singh and Khafid Un Nabi were the top performers with the ball for their respective sides, picking up 3 wickets apiece. In the second game of the day, the Azaiba XI clinched a 9-run victory over the Ghubrah Giants.
Batting first after winning the toss, the Azaiba XI posted a first innings total of 99-6. The openers were dismissed cheaply but a 68-run partnership between Arsalan Bashir and Rao Waqar turned the momentum in their side’s favour. They were dismissed for identical scores of 36. Moshin Qureshi was the pick of the bowlers for the Giants, finishing with figures of 2-13 in his 2 overs.
In response, the Giants’ efforts harboured an uncanny similarity with those of the Azaiba XI, in that the openers were dismissed early and the incoming batsmen settled in to play innings defining knocks. Kashif Ali and Dean Foxcroft stitched together a 72-run stand but it wasn’t enough to take their side over the line. A lowly 8 runs came off the final two overs and the Giants fell just short in the end.
Qurum Thunders recorded a comprehensive 9-wicket win over the Ruwi Rangers in the final game of the day.
Batting first after winning the toss, the Rangers posted a formidable first innings total of 113-6, powered by 20-plus scores from three batsmen.
Opener Shafqat Ullah was their top-scorer with a well-made 27. Chonira Aiyappa had a memorable day with the ball for the Thunders, ending the day with figures of 3-21 in his 2 overs.
Unfortunately for the side from Ruwi, they felt the full force of the national team’s batting unit in the second innings. Kashyapkumar Prajapati - fresh after playing a pivotal role in Oman’s successful 5-match UAE tour, dismantled the Rangers’ bowling attack in brutal fashion with a 28-ball 79.
Jatinder Singh was dismissed for 17, but the in-form Shoaib Khan stayed put and finished the job for Qurum with 2 overs to spare. Sanuth Ebrahim picked up his side’s only wicket.
BRIEF SCORES:
Amerat Royals 175-4 in 10 overs (Pratik Athavale 65 (23b, 8x4, 4x6) Akshaykumar Patel 50 (18b, 3x4, 5x6); Amanpreet Singh 3-25) beat Darsait Titans 126-5 in 10 overs (Zeeshan Maqsood 54 (21b, 4x4, 5x6); Khafid Un Nabi 3-17) by 49 runs.
Azaiba XI 99-6 in 10 overs (Arsalan Bashir 36 (23b, 2x4, 2x6) Rao Waqar 36 (18b, 1x4, 3x6); Moshin Qureshi 3-13) beat Ghubrah Giants 90-3 in 10 overs (Dean Foxcroft 41 (28b, 2x4, 3x6) Kashif Ali 34 (18b, 1x4, 3x6); Mudassar Iqbal 1-10) by 9 runs.
Ruwi Rangers 113-6 in 10 overs (Shafqat Ullah 27 (13b, 4x4, 1x6); Chonira Aiyappa 3-21) lost to Qurum Thunders 115-1 in 8 overs (Kashyapkumar Prajapati 79 (28b, 7x4, 6x6); Sanuth Ebrahim 1-30) by 9 wickets.
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
