Sports Reporter :
Hosts Oman defeated Papua New Guinea (PNG) by 10 wickets in the inaugural Group-B match of the ICC T20 World Cup qualifiers at the Al Amerat Stadium in Oman on Sunday.
Sent into bat first, Papua New Guinea (PNG) scored 129 for the loss of nine wickets in the allotted 20 overs.
In return, Oman romped home making 131 for the loss of none when they had 38 balls to spare.
Openers Aqib Ilyas and Jatinder Singh guided their team to reach the winning spot contributing together 131 runs in the unbroken opening partnership.
Jatinder Singh remained unbeaten with 73. His 42-ball sparkle innings had four sixes and seven fours. It was Jatinder Singh’s fifth T20I half-century.
Aqib Ilyas remained unbeaten with exact 50. His 43-ball superb innings saw five fours and one six. It was Aqib’s fourth T20I half-century.
PNG made a poor start as they lost their opener Tony Ura for just naught who was bowled out by Bilal Khan.
Then Lega Siaka, the other opener was bowled out for zero by Kaleemullah before PNG opened their account.
After Siaka’s dismissal, Assad Vala and Charles Amini contributed together 81 runs for the third wicket partnership before Charles Amini was run out by a direct throw of Mohammad Nadeem.
Charles Amini hit a fine 37. His 26-ball innings was studded with four fours and a sixer.
After Amini’s departure, PNG failed to make any notable partnership.
Assad Vala was caught was caught at the long-on by Jatinder Singh off Kaleemullah when PNG’s score was 102 for the loss of four wickets.
Assad Vala hit a captain’s knock of 56. His 43-ball innings was laced with three sixes and four fours. It was Assad Val’s fourth T20I half century.
Zeeshan Maqsood of Oman captured four wickets at the cost of 20 runs. Maqsood was adjudged the Man of the Match.
Bilal Khan and Kaleemullah bagged two wickets each instead of 16 and 19 runs respectively.
