Exciting wins for Al Mada, SAS & Partners and Khalsa

MUSCAT: A vital all-round contribution by Shahil Mohammed helped Al Mada Engineering beat fancied OCT Al Seeb despite outstanding performances by Al Balushi brothers, Yousuf and Issa, in a B Division clash at Muscat Municipality ground 2 in Al Amerat on Friday.

Opting to bat first, Al Mada was bundled out for 199 in 30 overs as Issa and Yousuf picked up three and two wickets respectively. Nishanth Menon topscored with 42 while Suraj Rao and Shahil contributed 33 and 32.

Issa (44) and Yousuf (72) stabilized OCT Al Seeb with a 70-run partnership for the fourth wicket after their team was reduced to 35 for 3 in the 4th over. However, OCT Seeb ran out of steam as soon as the duo departed and fell 9 runs short of what could have been a sensational victory. Shahil and Deepak Bhandari bagged two wickets each.

Brief scores (B Division): Al Mada Engineering 199 all out in 30 overs (Nishanth Menon 42 – 2x4, Suraj Rao 33 – 5x4, Shahil Mohammed 32 – 3x4. Issa al Balushi 3-33, Yousuf al Balushi 2-40) beat OCT Al Seeb 190 all out in 29.4 overs (Yousuf al Balushi 72 – 6x4, 1x6, Issa al Balushi 44 – 5x4, 1x6. Shahil Mohammed 2-11, Deepak Bhandari 2-29) by 9 runs. Shahid Mehmood’s brilliant all-round display powered SAS & Partners to an emphatic 6-wicket win over Qurum Business Group (QBG) in a C Division game at Muscat Municipality ground 1.

QBG was dismissed for 131 in the 19th over, Pradeesh Kumar topscoring with 44 off 37. Shamsudheen Sharif and Shahid captured three and two wickets respectively.

SAS & Partners raced to the target in only 16.2 overs, scoring 132 for 4 thanks to a magnificent 53 by Shahid who slammed two big sixes as well. Memon Asim chipped in with a useful 40 off 31. Shiyas Ibrahim took two wickets.

Brief scores (C Division): QBG 131 all out in 18.3 overs (Pradeesh Kumar 44 – 5x4, Muthumurugan 22 – 2x4. Shamsudheen Sharif 3-17, Shahid Mehmood 2-29) lost to SAS & Partners 132 for 4 in 16.2 overs (Shahid Mehmood 53 – 6x4, 2x6, Memon Asim 40 – 3x4, 1x6. Shiyas Ibrahim 2-31) by 6 wickets. Iftikhar Ahmed whacked 80 off only 49 balls to set up Khalsa United’s 55run victory against Douglas OHI in a D Division match at Muscat Municipality ground 2.

Khalsa posted 176 for 6 on the board in 20 overs. Apart from Iftikhar’s superb batting, Mohammed Pervez contributed a vital 27 not out. Bibin Sasi and Viplav Kumar took two wickets each.

Failing to put up a fight, OHI was dismissed for 124 in the 17th over. Nadeem Ahmed (20) and Viplav (19) were the only notable scorers. Sachin Sharma, Sushil Kadam and Mohammed Pervez claimed two wickets each.

Brief scores (D Division): Khalsa United 179 for 6 in 20 overs (Iftikhar Ahmed 80 – 6x4, 1x6, Mohammed Pervez 27 not out – 2x6. Bibin Sasi 2-29, Viplav Kumar 2-49) trounced Douglas OHI 124 all out in 16.4 overs (Nadeem Ahmed 20 – 3x4, 1x6, Viplav Kumar 19 – 2x4. Sachin Sharma 2-12, Sushil Kadam 2-18, Mohammed Pervez 2-19) by 55 runs.