Sufyan, Khurram power Enhance past PTI in thriller
MUSCAT: Star Omani player Sufyan Mahmood’s seaming deliveries were too hot to handle for Passage to India (PTI) as the fancied Premier Division team lost its opening encounter to a resurgent Enhance by one wicket at Ministry of Sports ground 1 in Al Amerat.
Sufyan’s six-wicket spell looked extra special as it came against a strong and experienced side like PTI which has as many as five Oman national team players in its ranks.
Opting to bowl first after winning the toss, Enhance continued to rattle strong PTI batting line-up, especially after Sufyan’s introduction to the attack as first change. Apart from opener Muhammed Sajjad Ali, who scored a stubborn 59, only Sultan Ahmed (35) showed glimpses of his class and vast experience as an international player. Pruthvikumar Machhi (24), Zeeshan Siddiqui (20) and Rana Safeer Triq (24) all failed to capitalise on the starts they got, leaving their team in dire straits. PTI were finally bowled out for 195 in 48.3 overs as six of their batsmen failed to score in double figure. Young Wasim Ali lent Sufyan vital support by bowling tight and intelligently, taking two wickets for just 27 runs in his 10over spell.
Despite having several Oman national players in the team, this did not prove to be an easy chase for Enhance too as it ran into trouble as soon as the 49-run opening stand was ended by Muhammed Salman Ali. Enhance quickly slipped from 64 for 3 to 106 for 5 as left-arm spinner Jaymin Taylor once again ran through the middle order with his nagging line and variations.
With Enhance 170 for 9 in the 44th over, PTI still had 26 runs to defend and only Khurram Khan standing between them and victory. Khurram made sure the day belonged to Enhance with superb batting under pressure and two lusty blows over the fence sealed the game’s fate, with Enhance winning the match by one wicket in 48.3 overs. Khurram remained not out at very impressive 40 off 40 balls. Jaymin took three wickets for 24 while Salman Ali bagged two for 32. Brief scores: PTI 195 all out in 48.3 overs (Muhammed Sajjad Ali 59 – 8x4, 1x6, Sultan Ahmed 35 – 3x4. Sufyan Mahmood 6-36, Wasim Ali 2-27) lost to Enhance 196 for 9 in 48.3 overs (Khurram Khan 40 – 1x4, 2x6, Sanuth Mohammed Ibrahim 35 – 3x4, 2x6. Jaymin Taylor 3-24, Salman Ali 2-32) by one wicket.
Zawawi Powertech win again
Zawawi Powertech Engineering posted its second successive win, handing Indian Social Club (ISC) its second defeat in as many matches, thanks to a scintillating all-round show by Manikandan Govindarajan in their B Division match at Muscat Municipality ground 1 in Al Amerat.
Govindarajan bowled superbly to claim three wickets for 31 as Zawawi Powertech restricted ISC 186 for 8 in 30 overs and then stroked an elegant 55 not out to see his side home in 22.2 overs. Zawawi team lost wickets in its run chase.
Ansar Raza topscored for ISC with a fluent 44 of 43 balls. Awawi’s Kalady Saidhalavi bagged three wickets for 34. Brief scores: ISC 186 for 8 in 30 overs (Ansar Raza Ansari 44 – 4x3, Mahel Asher 32 – 2x4. Manikandan Govindarajan 3-31, Kalady Saidhalavi 3-34) lost to Zawawi Powertech Engineering 188 for 4 in 22.2 overs (Manikandan Govindarajan 55 – 9x4, Ramkumar Chinna 35 – 6x4. Shrey Wilson 2-35) by six wickets. only four
Nazish takes five in White Lotus’ big win
Nazish Ahmed Mansoor’s matchwinning haul of five for 24 steered White Lotus International to a mammoth 111-run victory against a young MCCC New side in their B Division game at Muscat Municipality ground 3.
Batting first White Lotus piled up 212 for 8 in 30 overs, thanks to vital knocks by Gurmit Ram (40), Muhammed Nadeem Ashaq (36) and Jeril Sebastian (33). Young Siddh Hemal Mehta claimed four wickets for 49 while Shameer took two for 36.
MCCC boys had no clue to Nazish Ahmed’s beguiling spell as the whole team was bowled out for just 101 runs in 20.4 overs. Nazish bagged five wickets for 24, while Nadeem Ashaq took two for 12. Brief scores: White Lotus International 212 for 8 in 30 overs (Gurmit Ram 40 – 2x4, Muhammed Nadeem Ashaq 36 – 6x4, Jeril Sebastiab 33 – 5x4. Siddh Hemal Mehta 4-49, Shameer 2-36) beat MCCC New 101 all out in 20.4 overs (Shameer 30 – 1x4, Rajan Berry 21 – 3x4, Nazish Ahmed 5-24, Nadeem Ashaq 2-12) by 111 runs.
Deepak, Murad lift Basta past New Prism
In another B Division clash, Basta CT trounced New Prism International by 102 runs, thanks to a superb knock of 85 off 44 balls by Deepak Gakhar and a swashbuckling 39 of 18 balls (including 4 sixes) and two wickets for 30 by all-rounder Murad Khan at Muscat Municipality ground 1.
Basta made full use of the opportunity to bat first and set a big target for their opponents, scoring 211 for 7 in 20 overs. Mohammed Natekal batted well too for his 24 off 13 balls. Rakesh Sudhakar claimed three wickets for 40 runs.
New Prism failed to mount a challenge for Basta and were restricted to 109 for 8 in 20 overs. Only Rakesh Sudhakar was able to offer some resistance and scored 25 off 23 balls with one six. Mohammed Haris and Murad Khan bagged two wickets each. Brief scores: Basha CT 211 for 7 in 20 overs (Deepak Gakhar 85 – 12x4, 1x6, Murad Khan 39 – 1x4, 4x6, Mohammed Natekal 24 – 3x4, 1x6. Rakesh Sudhakar 3-40) defeated New Prism International 109 for 8 in 20 overs (Rakesh Sudhakar 25 – 1x6, Hardik Patel 20 – 3x4. Mohammed Haris 2-12, Murad Khan 2-30) by 102 runs.
ISC girls thrash ISG
In a women’s cricket league game at Ministry of Sports ground 2, Indian Social Club (ISC) proved to be too good for Indian School Ghubrah (ISG) in a huge 9-wicket victory on Monday afternoon.
Batting first, ISG posted a respectable 129 for 3 in 20 overs, with Priyanka Edna remaining unbeaten at 52 off 54 balls. Akshara Srinivasan was the other not out batswoman at 15. Krishna Udani and Payal Kanojia took one wicket each.
ISC girls then raced to the target in just 14.3 overs, losing only one wicket in the process. Mouna Monappa topscored with an unbeaten 37 off 31 balls while Trupti Pawde (29 not out) and Cynthia Saldanha (25) batted well too. Brief scores: ISG girls 129 for 3 in 20 overs (Priyanka Edna 50 – 2x4, Akshara Srinivasan 15 – 1x4. Payal Kanojia 1-26, Krishna Udani 1-30) lost to ISC girls 130 for 1 in 14.3 overs (Mouna Monappa 37 – 3x4, Trupti Pawde 29 – 3x4, Cynthia Sadanha 25 – 2x4) by 9 wickets.