MCS, Sarco, NBO register exciting wins
MUSCAT: Abrar Hussain struck another matchwinning fifty, scoring 81 off 45 to steer Muscat Cricket Sports (MCS) to a comfortable 6-wicket win against White Lotus International in a Senior Cup Knockout match at Muscat Municipality ground 1 in Al Amerat.
Asked to bat first, White Lotus scored 162 for 7 in 20 overs thanks to unbeaten 65 off 41 by Mohammed Sameer. Bharat Barmeda bagged 2 for 28.
Riding on Abrar’s brilliant knock, MCS overhauled the target in 17.5 overs, scoring 166 for 4. Ahmed Khan contributed unbeaten 35 off 28. Captain Neil Paily claimed 2 for 36. Brief scores: White Lotus International 162 for 7 in 20 overs (Mohammed Sameer 65 not out – 5x4. Bharat Marmeda 2-28) lost to MCS 166 for 4 in 18.5 overs (Abrar Hussain 81 – 10x4, 2x6, Ahmed Khan 35 not out – 4x4. Nail Paily 2-36) by 6 wickets
SARCO TROUNCE AL MADA In another Senior Cup game at the same venue, Sarco scored a 3-wicket victory against Al Mada Engineering. Batting first, Al Mada was dismissed for 140 in 19.2 overs. Shaheer Najeeb (45 off 34) and Shahil Mohammed (33 off 32) were the main scorers. Pradeep Salain bowled well, taking 3 for 24.
Sarco raced to the target in just 14.5 overs, scoring 141 for 7 thanks to a superb 45 off 25 by Rakesh Patel and 30 off 29 by Ajay Menon. Jayaprakash Narayan and Nishanth Menon took two wickets each. Brief scores: Al Mada Engineering 140 all out in 19.2 overs (Shaheer Najeeb 45 – 4x4, Shahil Mohammed 33 – 2x4. Pradeep Salian 3-24) lost to Sarco 141 for 7 in 14.5 overs (Rakesh Patel 45 – 8x4, 1x6, Ajay Menon 30 – 3x4, 1x6. Jayaprakash Narayan 2-15, Nishanth Menon 2-31) by 3 wickets
SYED ARFAN POWERS NBO TO VICTORY In an Intermediate Cup Knockout match, National Bank of Oman (NBO) thrashed Zubair CT by 83 runs at Muscat Municipality ground 2.
Invited to bat first, NBO amassed 220 for 5 in 20 overs thanks to brilliant 89 off 59 by Syed Arfan Ali and 17-ball 41 by Omani star Ismail Ghulam Al Balushi. Fazal Khan took 2 for 39. Zubair CT failed to pose any threat to NBO, managing only 137 for 8 in 20 overs. Brief scores: NBO 220 for 5 in 20 overs (Syed Arfan Ali 89 – 10x4, 2x6, Ismail Ghulam Al Balushi 41 – 6x4, 1x6. Fazal Khan 2-39) beat Zubair CT 137 for 8 in 20 overs (Mayalakkara 29 – 5x4, Neeraj Nambiar 24 – 3x4. Shahid Mughal 2-24, Sadik Khan 2-25, Manas Kapoor 2-27) by 83 runs.