NBO face STS Tebodin in Intermediate Knockout final

MUSCAT: Match-winning performances by Mustansar Hussain and Khurram Bilal steered NBO to a 31-run semifinal win over Zubair CT, setting up Senior Division Knockout title showdown with STS Tebodin, who thrashed Aptus CT by 44 runs in the other semifinal played in Al Amerat on Friday.

Mustansar and Bilal struck 54 and 30 respectively as NBO posted 168 all out on the board in 19.4 overs.

Kannan Padbhanaban and Abdul Aziz Mir claimed three wickets each.

Mustansar and Bilal were the pick of the NBO bowers, taking 5 and 3 wickets respectively as Zubair CT was dismissed for 137 in the 18th over. Sunail Kumar (40) and Fazal Khan (25) were the only notable scorers. BRIEF SCORES (Intermediate Division semifinals): NBO 168 all out in 19.4 overs (Mustansar Hussain 54 – 7x4, Khurram Bilal 30 – 3x4, 2x6, Mohammed Wasim Khatri 26 – 1x4, 2x6. Kannan Padbhanaban 3-20, Abdul Aziz Mir 3-22) defeated Zubair CT 137 all out in 17.4 overs (Sunil Kumar 40 – 5x4, Fazal Khan 25 – 2x4, 2x6. Mustansar Hussain 5-10, Khurram Bilal 3-21) by 31 runs. CAPTAIN VIKAS POWERS STS TEBODIN

Leading from the front, captain Vikas Bhadoria powered STS Tebodin to an emphatic semifinal win over Aptus CT at Muscat Municipality ground 2.

Bhadoria slammed 48 off 32 while Mohammed Naheem Pasma contributed a fluent 46 as STS scored 153 for 9 in 20 overs. Harish Mohan and skipper Suraj Raj bagged two wickets each. Aptus failed to compete well and was restricted to 109 for 9 in 20 overs thanks to impressive bowling by Bhadoria, Marshal Barmeda and Jeel Tanna who picked up two wickets each. BRIEF SCORES (Intermediate Division semifinals): STS Tebodin 153 for 9 in 20 overs (Vikas Bhadoria 48 – 4x4, 1x6, Mohammed Naheem Pasma 43 – 3x4, Krunal Kishor Ahay 23 – 2x4. Harish Mohan 2-13, Sooraj Raj 2-30) trounced Aptus CT 109 for 9 in 20 overs (Jibin Kunnumpurath 27 – 4x4. Marshal Barmeda 2-15, Jeel Tanna 2-16, Vikas Bhadoria 2-18) by 44 runs.