Oman crush Cork County in World T20 qualifiers build-up
MUSCAT: The Oman national cricket team recorded a massive 59-run win against a strong combined Cork County cricket team in their last practice match played in Cork, Ireland.
The team will after a few net sessions travel to Belfast on July 3 for the warm up matches against Nepal on July 6 and Ireland on July 7 prior to the commencement of the tournament proper.
Batting first the Oman team piled up 179 runs off the 20 allotted overs with solid contributions from Jatinder Singh 66 (7x4 and 1x6), Mehran Khan 33 (3x4 and 2x6) and skipper Sultan Ahmed 31 (5x4).
With a required run rate of 9 runs per over the hosts managed to get only to 119 with Aamir Kaleem grabbing four wickets conceding 24 runs. Munis Ansari, Sufyan Mahmood and Rajesh Ranpura claimed a wicket each.
At a presentation ceremony held after the completion of the match mementos were awarded to Ajay Lalacheta as the best bowler while Khawar Ali was adjudged the best batsman.
The Oman tam are raring to proceed for the ICC T20 World Cup qualifiers.
Oman has been pooled in Group B with Afghanistan, UAE, The Netherlands, Scotland, Canada and Kenya. The top three from the group, along with three from the other pool, will progress to the World T20, to be played next year.
The other group in the qualifying competition comprises Ireland, Nepal, Hong Kong, Papua New Guinea, Namibia, the United States and Jersey.
Oman face Kenya in the opening match on July 11, followed by Canada on July 12 and The Netherlands on July 14. They play Afghanistan on July 15, UAE on July 17 and Canada on July 18.