MUSCAT - Oman's captivating performance, led by Shakeel Ahmed, cast a spell over the UAE's batsmen, resulting in a four-wicket victory that secured a hat-trick of triumphs in the Cricket World Cup (CWC) League 2 tri-series at the Oman Cricket Academy ground on Thursday.
Facing a modest target of 79, Oman encountered early difficulties as they lost their captain Jatinder Singh, Wasim Ali, and their in-form Ashish Odedara to a collapse to 12/3 after merely eight overs. However, the seasoned experience of Aamir Kaleem (32) managed to stabilize the situation. Kaleem, in partnership with wicketkeeper Hammad Mirza (20), contributed significantly to the recovery, sharing a crucial 56-run partnership that put Oman back in the game.
Yet, as Oman appeared to regain control, a series of wickets from the UAE's Baseel Hameed initiated a mini-collapse. Hameed took the wickets of Kaleem, Mirza, and Shakeel Ahmed, leaving Oman at a precarious 72/6. Nonetheless, the composure of Mohammad Nadeem and Sandeep Goud ensured Oman's victory, as they completed the chase with a score of 79/6 in just 24.1 overs.
In a match characterized by low scores, it was the team that demonstrated greater adaptability to the conditions that emerged as the victors.
With the pitch offering ample turn, Shakeel Ahmed mesmerized the UAE batsmen, almost achieving a hat-trick as he took wickets with remarkable frequency. His outstanding performance of 5/23 was instrumental in Oman's success. The all-rounder had previously showcased his talent in Oman's match against the Netherlands, where he claimed 4 wickets, and his recent performance earned him his first five-wicket haul in the format.
Ahmed's brilliance was further supported by fellow spinner Jay Odedra, who took 2/5, while leg-spinner Samay Shrivastav and medium-pacer Muzahir Raza each picked up a wicket. Collectively, they bowled out the UAE for a mere 78 in just 25.3 overs.
UAE's leading scorer was Ali Naseer, who scored 21, while Basil Hameed, who had been instrumental in reviving the innings, was dismissed for 12.
Raza provided Oman with a perfect start by dismissing UAE's opener Aryansh Sharma leg-before in the first over. From that point, Ahmed took over, removing Muhammad Waseem and Vishnu Sukumaran off successive deliveries in the eighth over.
Four overs later, Ahmed struck again, dismissing Vritya Aravind and Ayaan Afzal Khan off consecutive balls, coming within striking distance of a hat-trick. Although he did not complete the feat, his spell of 5/23 inflicted maximum damage, and with Odedra and Shrivastav picking up wickets in between, the UAE's batting order crumbled.
The triumph on Thursday marked Oman's third consecutive victory within their home grounds, elevating them to the fifth position in the standings of the eight-nation tournament, accumulating 12 points from a total of 11 matches. The Netherlands closely follow Oman, also securing 12 points, albeit from a slightly lower number of matches, with 10. The United States currently holds the lead in the standings, amassing 16 points from 12 games. Oman is set to face the Netherlands in the concluding match of the tri-series on November 11, preceded by the Dutch team's match against the UAE on Saturday.
The United Arab Emirates continue to occupy the lowest position in the rankings, having managed to secure only 4 points from their 10 matches.
Brief Scoring Summary:
In the UAE's match, they achieved a total of 78 runs in 25.3 overs, with Ali Naseer scoring 21 runs and Shakeel Ahmed taking 5 wickets for 23 runs. They were defeated by Oman, who scored 79 runs in 24.1 overs, with Aamir Kaleem scoring 32 runs and Hammad Mirza taking 20 wickets, while Baseel Hameed took 3 wickets.
