MUSCAT: Omani stars Sufyan Mahmood and Issa al Balushi powered OCT Seeb to a thumping 9-wicket win against Indian Social Club (ISC) in a Senior Cup Knockout game at Muscat Municipality ground 1 in Al Amerat.
Invited to bat first, ISC posted 169 for 7 on the board in 20 overs thanks to Chetan Mallya’s 55-ball 78 and Bishen Singh’s quickfire 29 off 12. Sufyan, Abbas al Balushi and Younis al Balushi bagged two wickets each.
OCT Seeb made short work of the healthy target in just 14.1 overs, scoring 170 for 1 thanks to powerful knocks by Sufyan Mahmood (unbeaten 68 off 40) and Issa al Balushi (65 off 30) including 6 powerful sixes. Yousuf al Balushi remained not out on 22 off 16.
Brief scores: ISC 169 for 7 in 20 overs (Chetan Mallya 78 – 10x4, Bishen Singh 29 – 5x4, 1x6. Sufyan Mahmood 2-26, Abbas al Balushi 2-34, Younis al Balushi 2-42) lost to OCT Seeb 170 for 1 in 14.1 overs (Sufyan Mahmood 68 not out – 12x4, Issa al Balushi 65 – 4x4, 6x6, Yousuf al Balushi 22 not out – 1x4, 1x6) by 9 wickets.
Abrar leads MCS to victory
In another Senior Cup game, Abrar Hussain’s magnificent all-round performance led Muscat Cricket Sports (MCS) to an exciting 5-wicket victory against Platinum Services Diamond (PSD) at Muscat Municipality ground 2. Opting to bat first, PSD scored 169 for 9 in 20 overs. Ahmed Murtaz led the way with a swashbuckling 81 off 33 while Imran Rijvi Ayoob contributed 23 off 18. Abrar played a pivotal role in containing PSD by taking 5 for 19 in his 4-over spell.
Facing a significant total, MCS was struggling at 116 for 5 in 13 overs, but Abrar played a superb unbeaten innings of 99 off 55 balls to see his side to a thrilling win with 10 balls still to be bowled. Opener Rahul Kerai contributed 27 off 15.
Brief scores: PSD 169 for 9 in 20 overs (Ahmed Murtaz 81 – 10x4, 3x6, Imran Rijvi Ayoob 23 – 2x4. Abrar 5-19) lost to MCS 170 for 5 in 18.2 overs (Abrar Hussain 99 not out – 12x4, 1x6, Rahul Kerai 27 – 4x4) by 5 wickets.
Deepak stars in Al Mada win
Al Mada Engineering registered a comfortable 40-run win against Qurum Business Group (QBG) in a Senior Cup match at the same venue. Shaheer Najeeb (70 off 53) and Deepak Bhandari (68 off 36) played vital knocks as Al Mada scored 186 for 6 in 20 overs. Sujash Rasheed and Rasik Erasseri took two wickets each.
QBG struggle to maintain the high run rate and was dismissed for 146 in 17.5 overs. Shifan Mohammed and Prashobh Mohanakumaran scored 27 each. Mohammed Raza Mohsin led the bowling honours with 4 for 22 while Rajesh Shetty and Deepak Bhandari claimed three and two wickets respectively.
Brief scores: Al Mada Engineering 186 for 6 in 20 overs (Shaheer Najeeb 70 – 5x4, Deepak Bhandari 68 – 8x4, 1x6. Sujash Rasheed 2-21, Rasik Erasseri 2-32) defeated QBG 146 all out in 17.5 overs (Shifan Mohammed 27 – 4x4, Prashobh Mojanakumaran 27 – 3x4. Mohammed Raza Mohsin 4-22, Rajesh Shetty 3-31, Deepak Bhandari 2-23) by 40 runs.
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