Friday 19 / April / 2024
Muscat: Oman eased to a nine-wicket victory over Tanzania to go to the top of the table in the ongoing ICC World Cricket League Division 5 Competition in Jersey on Wednesday.
In a low scoring match, Tanzania batting first were bowled out for 94 in 32.5 overs and then in reply Oman proved too good for the African side as they cantered to victory in just 17.3 overs scoring 96 runs for the loss of one wicket.
The victory, their fourth in succession, took Duleep Mendis-coached Omanis to the top of the six-team table with eight points. With their nearest rivals Guernsey and hosts Jersey on six points each and with one round of matches to be played on Friday, Oman are virtually assured of a place in the final and with that promotion to Division 5.
After a day’s rest, the competition resumes on Friday, unbeaten Oman face Guernsey while Jersey lock horns with Nigeria.
On Wednesday, Oman captain Ajay Lalcheta, for the first time in the tournament, won the toss and rightly asked the Tanzanians bat first.
In fact, the left-arm spinner himself bowled the first over, a maiden at that. But it was pace bowler Rajesh Ranpura who struck removing opener Jitin Singh for a duck before Tanzania opened the score.
In his second over, fourth of the innings, Ranpura dismissed Arshan Jasani before the batsmen troubled the scorers.
Later, Omani talent Sufyan Mehmood struck off the very first ball he bowled, shattering the stumps of Kassim Nassaoro (9).
Opener Abhik Patwa (28) and Shaheed Dhanani (32) tried to steady the ship. But once spinner Aamir Kaleem removed the duo, Tanzanians simply crumbled.
Kaleem finished with the figures of five for 23 while Lalcheta and Ranpura bagged two each.
In reply, there was no stopping Zeeshan Maqsood with the centurion from Oman’s previous match against Vanuatu scoring an unbeaten 62 runs.
Fellow opener Khawar Ali contribued 15 while Vaibhav Wategaonkar remained unbeaten on 19 to give Zeeshan company till the end.
In other matches played on Wednesday, Jersey defeated Guernsey by seven wickets and Vanuatu won by a massive 110-run margin against Nigeria.
SCOREBOARD
TANZANIA
AR Patwa c A. Lalcheta b Aamir Kaleem 28
Jitin Singh c S. Khadye b R. Ranpura 0
A. Jasani b R. Ranpura 0
K. Nassoro b Sufyan Mehmood 9
S. Dhanani c A. Lalcheta b Aamir Kaleem 32
A. Kamania c S. Khadye b Aamir Kaleem 0
RK Kiseto c M. Ansari b Aamir Kaleem 12
KZ Rehmtullah lbw A. Lalcheta 0
A. Dagar c Jatinder Singh b A. Lalcheta 4
A. Mpeka c N. Riaz b Aamir Kaleem 0
N. Mapunda not out 1
Extras (b-1, w-7) 8
Total (all out; 32.5 overs) 94
Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-2, 3-34, 4-47, 5-47, 6-76, 7-77, 8-93, 9-93.
Bowling: A. Lalcheta 7-1-17-2 (w-1); R. Ranpura 6- 1-18-2 (w-2); M. Ansari 4-1-18-0 (w-1); Sufyan Mehmood 3-0-5-1 (w-1); Aamir Kaleem 8.5-1-23-5 (w-1); Zeeshan Maqsood 4-0-12-0.
OMAN
Zeeshan Maqsood not out 62
Khawar Ali st Mapunda b Nassoro 15
Vaibhav Wategaonkar not out 19
Extras 0
Total (1 wkt; 17.3 overs) 96
Did not bat: N. Riaz, Jatinder Singh, Aamir Kaleem, A. Lalcheta, Sufyan Mehmood, R. Ranpura, S. Khadye, M. Ansari.
Fall of wicket: 1-43.
Bowling: KZ Rehmtullah 2-0-15-0; K. Nassoro 7-1-30-1; A. Dagar 4.3-0-27; A. Mpeka 3-0-12-0; RK Kiseto 1-0-12-0.
