Butt, Ali star in PTI’S exciting over Al Turki

MUSCAT: Scintillating all-round performances by Ahmed Fayyaz Butt and Syed Amir Ali and a sizzling pace bowling spell of 4 for 32 by Bilal Khan powered Passage to India to an exciting 14-run victory against Al Turki NMC in a crucial Premier Division clash at Oman Cricket’s grassy ground 1 in Al Amirat on Friday.

PTI was in deep trouble, losing three wickets for only 8 runs before slumping to 70 for 6 in 24 overs. However, a 44-run partnership between Butt (43 off 54) and Amir Ali (70 off 90) put PTI back on track as it managed to score 172 before being dismissed in the last over. Sultan Ahmed chipped in with a patient 25 off 63. Gopendra Bohara was the pick of Al Turki bowlers, taking 4 for 13 while Ajay Lalcheta claimed two wickets. Al Turki was cruising at 77 for 1 when Amir Ali broke the 64-run partnership between Lalcheta (41) and Suraj Kumar (33), bringing PTI back in the game as it quickly reduced Al Turki to 97 for 4. A see-saw battle ensued with PTI winning the game by 14 runs as Al Turki was bundled out for 158 in the 47th over. Butt and Bilal Khan claimed four wickets each while Amir Ali bagged two. BRIEF SCORES (Premier Division): PTI 172 all out in 49.3 overs (Syed Amir Ali 70 – 4x4, 4x6, Ahmed Fayyaz Butt 43 – 7x4, Sultan Ahmed 25 – 2x4. Gopendra Bohara 4-13, Jignesh Patel 2-23) beat Al Turki NMC 158 all out in 46.4 overs (Ajay Lalcheta 41 – 6x4, Jayam Sunil Singh 35 – 2x4, Suraj Kumar 33 – 1x4, 2x6. Ahmed Fayyaz Butt 4-32, Bilal Khan 4-32, Syed Amir Ali 2-15) by 14 runs.

ZAWAWI ROUTS PSD Nishad KS and Suhil Kanagaraj registered magnificent all-round performances in Zawawi Powertench Engineering’s huge 155-run win over Platinum Services Diamond (PSD) in an A Division game at Oman Cricket’s grassy ground 2 on Friday.

Zawawi posted a huge 303 for 4 in 50 overs thanks to brilliant batting by Nishad (85), Vijeesh Velunni (67), Banty Nandy (64 not out) and Kanagaraj (42) and then dismissed PSD for a paltry 148 in 33 overs. Nishad and Kalairasan Nataraj claimed three wickets each while Kanagaraj bagged two. Imran Rijvi (45), Azmat Ullah (30) and Musaffar Hasan (27) were the only notable scorers for PSD. BRIEF SCORES (A Division): Zawawi Powertech Engineering 303 for 4 in 50 overs (Nishad KS 85 – 10x4, 1x6, Vijeesh Velunni 67 – 9x4, 1x6, Banty Nandy 64 not out – 5x4, Suhil Kanagaraj 42 – 3x4, 3x6. Ahammad Karim 2-61) thrashed Platinum Services Diamond 148 all out in 33 overs (Imran Rijvi 45 – 7x4, Azmat Ullah 30 – 4x4, Musaffar Hasan 27 – 4x4, 1x6. Nishad KS 3-35, Kalairasan Natarajan 3-35, Suhil Kanagaraj 2-21) by 155 runs.