MUSCAT: Passage to India (PTI) stunned defending champion Assarain in a 9-wicket upset win to make the championship race for the Muscat Pharmacy-sponsored Premier Division more interesting. Despite this loss, Assarain remains on top with 31 points from 11 matches with only one game left against Al Turki. Enhance and Muscat CT are close behind with 26 and 22 points respectively from 10 games each. It can’t get closer than that as one more loss for Assarain may mean a new Premier Division champion this season.
Asked to bat first, Assarain, without three of its main players due to national duty, had a forgettable outing and was dismissed for a paltry 152 in 45 overs. Sami Ur Rehman (34 off 43), Shiju Shylajakumari (34 off 53) and Sindo Michael (30 off 66) were the main scorers. Syed Amir Kaleem led the bowling honours with a 4-wicket haul while Muhammed Zahir Siddiqui bagged three.
PTI raced to the target in just 22.1 overs, scoring 154 for 1 thanks to Rana Safeer Tariq’s unbeaten 72 off 57 balls. Fellow opener Muhammed Sajjad Ali slammed a run-a-ball 68.
Brief scores: Assarain 152 all out in 45 overs (Sami Ur Rehman 34 – 5x4, Shiju Shylajakumari 34 – 4x4, 1x6, Sindo Michael 30 – 1x4. Syed Amir Kaleem 4-20, Muhammed Zahir Siddiqui 3-34, Ihsan Ullah Khan 2-16) lost to PTI 154 for 1 in 22.1 overs (Rana Safeer Tariq 72 not out – 8x4, 3x6, Muhammed Sajjad Ali 68 – 6x4, 5x6) by 9 wickets.
All-rounders help NYDT shock Renaissance
National Youth Development Team (NYDT) rode on brilliant performances by Adeel Abbas, Ubaidullah and Adil Abbas Ali to upset Renaissance by six wickets in a Khimji Ramdas-sponsored A Division clash at the Ministry of Sports grassy ground 2 in Al Amerat.
Batting first, Renaissance failed to capitalise on a decent start and slumped to 161 for 8 after being 103 for 3 in the 22nd over. In the end, 167 was all it could manage before being bowled out in the 41st over. Kurukulasuriya Sajith topscored with 46 off 49 while openers Robins Barmeda and Nisal Fernando contributed 33 and 29 respectively. Adeel Abbas bowled exceptionally well to claim four wickets. Adil Abbas Ali and Mohammed Mohsin bagged two wickets each while Ubaidullah took one.
NYDT was struggling at 46 for 3 before a 120-run fourth wicket partnership between Ubaidullah (69 not out off 93) and Adil Abbas Ali (51 off 52) helped the team to a comfortable win in the 30th over. Kurukulasuriya Sajith took two wickets.
Brief scores: Renaissance 167 all out in 40.1 overs (Kurukulasuriya Sajith 46 – 5x4, 2x6, Robins Barmeda 33 – 4x4, Nisal Fernando 29 – 6x4. Adeel Abbas 4-27, Adil Abbas Ali 24, Mohammed Mohsin 2-31) lost to NYDT 170 for 4 in 29.3 overs (Ubaidullah 69 not out – 9x4, 1x6, Adil Abbas Ali 51 – 6x4. Kurukulasuriya Sajith 2-25) by six wickets.
Ali powers MCCC New to win over E&Y
MCCC New got the better of Ernst and Young (E&Y) with a 5-wicket victory in an Al Ansari Group-sponsored B Division game at Muscat Municipality ground 1.
Batting first, E&Y was bundled out for 163 in 27.4 overs. Amanpreet Singh (30 off 27) and Mohammed Nayaz (28 off 32) were the notable scorers. Swapneel Girker, Rajan Berry and Mohammed Samir bagged two wickets each.
MCCC New overhauled the target in 23.3 overs, scoring 167 for 5 thanks to a superb unbeaten 73 off 54 balls by Ali Asgar Saifee. Neev Poojari contributed a valuable 34 off 33 down the order. Pankaj Gupta took two wickets.
Brief scores: E&Y 163 all out in 27.4 overs (Amanpreet Singh 30 – 4x4, Mohammed Nayaz 28 – 3x4. Swapneel Girker 2-14, Rajan Berry 2-17, Mohammed Samir 2-26) lost to MCCC New 167 for 5 in 23.3 overs (Ali Asgar Saifee 73 not out – 8x4, Neev Poojari 34 – 1x4. Pankaj Gupta 2-30) by 5 wickets.
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