Assarain edge Muscat in thriller, Yousuf stars in OCT Seeb’s win
MUSCAT: Defending champions Assarain rode on Sindo Michael’s match-winning all-round show to beat never-say-die Muscat CT in a crucial Muscat Pharmacy-sponsored Premier Division thriller at Ministry of Sports Affairs Ground I in Al Amerat on Friday.
Assarain are now sitting pretty at the top with 31 points from 10 games with Enhance and Muscat hot on their heels with 22 points each from nine matches.
Invited to bat first, Assarain found the going tough against some tight bowling by Muscat CT. After a middle order collapse, Assarain slumped to 109 for six after being happily placed at 98 for two.
However, a fighting 86-run ninth wicket partnership between Sindo Michael (60 not out off 81) and Vinukumar Gopalakrishnan (32 off 49) pulled the team out of the woods as Assarain finished their quota of 50 overs at 224 all out.
For Muscat CT, Baadal Singh toom three wickets. Ayaan Khan and Rajeshkumar Ranpura bagged three wickets each.
Determined to claim vital points to stay in the championship fray, Muscat CT got off to a decent start, 63 for one in 13 overs, before they ran into inform Sindo Michael again. Three quick wickets in the next 10 overs saw Muscat struggling at 89 for four. However, a 51-run partnership for the fifth wicket between captain Vaibhav Wategaonkar (39 off 65) and Ayaan Khan brough Muscat back into the game.
After Vaibhav’s departure, Ayaan took the fight to Assarain almost single-handedly, scoring a valiant 76 off 71 balls before he became Sindo’s fourth victim of the day. Muscat ran out of steam after his fall, managing 221 for nine in 50 overs.
Yousuf lifts OCT Seeb
Star Omani batsman Yousuf Rahim Al Balushi slammed 36-ball 77 not out to power OCT Seeb to an exciting five-wicket victory against PDO in a crucial Raha Poly Products-sponsored C Division clash.
Unbeaten so far, OCT Seeb are among the favourites to win C Division title. Opting to bowl first after winning the toss, OCT Seeb did well to restrict PDO to 149 for four in 20 overs.
Reeling at 54 for four, OCT Seeb were rescued by Yusuf ’s belligerent knock that included three towering sixes. Finally, the allOmani side won the game in the final over, scoring 154 for five in 19.4 overs. Sufyan Mahmood contributed 34 off 31. Rajesh Khetani claimed two wickets for PDO.