MUSCAT: Oman’s younger, all-homegrown facet suffered a harsh actuality test on the Singapore Nationwide Cricket Floor on Friday, taking place by 154 runs to a rampant Hong Kong of their remaining Group B fixture of the Males’s T20I Asian Video games Qualifier.
Nevertheless, the defeat did little to decrease Oman’s achievement of securing a historic Asian Video games berth. Having already booked their place within the semi-finals with consecutive wins over Singapore and Bahrain, the inexperienced squad will now flip its consideration to a high-stakes last-four conflict in opposition to match favourites Nepal on June 7.
Captain Sufyan Mehmood’s choice to bowl first after successful the toss proved expensive as Hong Kong produced one of the vital damaging batting shows of the match, piling up a staggering 287 for 1 of their 20 overs.
Opener Anshuman Rath led the assault with a sensational unbeaten 140 off simply 56 deliveries, placing 13 fours and 10 sixes at a outstanding strike charge of 250. He shared a dominant 192-run opening stand with skipper Nizakat Khan, who blasted 76 from 45 balls, together with six fours and 4 sixes.
Oman lastly made a breakthrough within the fifteenth over when Naveed Al Balushi dismissed Nizakat, however the respite was transient. Babar Hayat then launched a panoramic late onslaught, hammering an unbeaten 63 from solely 19 balls, with seven fours and 5 sixes, to propel Hong Kong to their imposing whole.
Confronted with a frightening goal of 288, Oman by no means managed to realize a foothold within the chase. The batting line-up struggled to maintain tempo with the required charge and was dismantled by Hong Kong’s disciplined assault.
Off-spinner Ehsan Khan was the chief destroyer, claiming 4 for 12 from his 4 overs to tear via the center order.
There have been, however, some encouraging contributions from Oman’s batters. Zubair Al Balushi top-scored with a brisk 40 off 23 balls, together with 5 fours and two sixes, whereas wicketkeeper Muzaffar Shiralkar struck 36 from 26 deliveries, hitting six fours and a six. Oman finally closed on 133 for 8 from their 20 overs.
The match additionally marked the T20I debuts of Munthir Al Balushi and Faris Al Balushi.
Oman completed with 4 factors to path group toppers Hong Kong, who subsequent face Malaysia within the semi-finals.
Consideration now shifts to the knockout stage, the place Oman will face a formidable Nepal facet that topped Group A with an unbeaten file. Coach Ajay Lalcheta, who took cost shortly earlier than the match after common coach Sultan Ahmed couldn’t journey resulting from logistics points, will hope his younger squad rapidly places Friday’s setback behind them and approaches the semi-final with the fearless cricket that has already earned them a spot on the Asian Video games.
Transient scores: Hong Kong 287/1 in 20 overs (Anshuman Rath 140, Nizakat Khan 76, Babar Hayat 63; Naveed Al Balushi 1/49) beat Oman 133/8 in 20 overs (Zubair Al Balushi 40, Muzaffar Shiralkar 36; Ehsan Khan 4/12, Nasrulla Rana 2/20) by 154 runs.
