Thursday 26 / December / 2024
Muscat: Oman’s revamped cricket team, featuring a mix of experienced players and fresh talent, opened its home tri-series in the ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 (WCL 2) with a commanding six-wicket victory over UAE.
The win on Friday has set an encouraging tone for Oman, who will now look to secure a second successive win when they face The Netherlands on Tuesday at the Oman Cricket Academy ground.
With head coach Duleep Mendis at the helm, Oman fielded a ‘new-look’ squad that included four ODI debutants - Muzahir Raza, Ashish Odedara, Hammad Mirza, and Samay Shrivastav.
Though not all debutants are fresh-faced youngsters, their presence has injected a renewed energy and approach to the side. This blend of new and seasoned players proved effective against a more experienced UAE lineup, as Oman clinched an important victory in their ongoing WCL 2 campaign.
Oman captain Jatinder Singh’s decision to bowl first paid off, as UAE faltered early, finding themselves at 18/2 within the first eight overs.
Samay Shrivastava
Leg-spinner Shrivastav then turned the screws on UAE’s middle order with an impressive spell, taking 4/25, including two wickets in a single over that sparked a rapid collapse.
UAE were eventually bundled out for 128 runs in 41.3 overs. Supporting Shrivastav, Shakeel Ahmed picked up 2/22, while Raza, Aamir Kaleem, Jay Odedra, and Karan Sonavale claimed a wicket each, underscoring Oman’s collective strength in bowling.
Oman’s chase, however, had its moments of tension. Losing Jatinder Singh early, they found themselves under pressure at 21/3 by the 12th over. But Ashish Odedara’s composed, unbeaten 54 off 127 balls anchored the innings and steadied the ship. He was ably supported by Hammad Mirza, who contributed a crucial 28, and veteran Mohammad Nadeem, who finished unbeaten on 19, guided Oman to a comfortable 129/4 in 43.4 overs.
With Friday’s victory, Oman have improved its standing in the WCL 2, now positioned sixth in the eight-team table with eight points from nine matches.
Leading the group is the USA, who have accumulated 16 points from 12 matches, followed closely by Canada, also with 16 points from 12 matches but trailing on net run rate. Scotland are in third place, having earned 13 points from 10 matches, while The Netherlands, Oman’s next opponent, are ranked fourth with 12 points from nine games. Namibia are in fifth with 10 points from 12 games, just above Oman’s eight points. Nepal, with five points from 11 games, and the UAE, anchored at the bottom with four points from nine games, round out the standings.
This tri-series is a critical component of Oman’s WCL 2 journey, providing opportunities to climb the standings and advance in the ICC’s qualification pathway to the 2027 ODI World Cup. With three wins, two shared points, and four losses, Oman, who finished second in the last cycle, have already shown their potential, and another win on Tuesday could further bolster their campaign.
The team’s balance of fresh entrants and seasoned players, combined with home-ground advantage, positions them well to maintain momentum and challenge their opponents.
On Sunday, UAE bounced back from the opening match loss to defeat Netherlands by 26 runs.
Remaining fixtures in the Oman tri-series: November 5: Oman vs Netherlands, November 7: Oman vs UAE, November 9: Netherlands vs UAE, November 11: Oman vs Netherlands.
