MUSCAT: Oman posted a seven-wicket win against table toppers UAE in the quadrangular T20 series at the Oman Cricket Academy ground in Al Amerat on Monday.
Despite the defeat, UAE emerged winners of the series with four points from three matches and a better net run-rate of 0.547 compared to second-placed Ireland (0.457) who also have four points.
Oman’s lone win in the series helped them land in third position above Nepal. Both teams have two points each, but Oman managed a better net run-rate ( -0.438) than Nepal (-0.592).
In the morning match, captain Zeeshan Maqsood won the toss and elected to bowl first.
UAE posted a challenging total of 165 for eight wickets in 20 overs after a scintillating knock of 84 by opener Muhammad Waseem.
Waseem mainly dealt with sixers, sending eight over the ropes. He also hit three boundaries to belt 84 runs from 44 balls.
Veteran left-arm slow bowler Aamir Kaleem wrecked the UAE batting at the other end taking 5-29 which included the price wicket of Waseem.
Rohan Mustafa and Vriitya Aravind scored 19 runs each.
Bilal Khan bowled a tidy spell of four overs giving away only 15 runs.
In reply, Oman reached the target with three balls remaining.
Kashyap Prajapati hit 69 from 53 balls with the help of eight fours.
Shoaib Khan scored 34 and opener Jatinder Singh made 22 runs.
IRELAND WIN
In the afternoon match, Ireland beat Nepal by 16 runs.
In a low-scoring encounter, Nepal won the toss and elected to bowl first.
Ireland found it difficult to score against a good bowling effort by Nepal.
George Dockrell top-scored with 28.
Man of the match Dipendra Singh Airee took four wickets for Nepal with his right-arm off-break bowling.
It was Airee’s day except on the winning points with the Nepal all-rounder taking 4-21 and two catches during Ireland batting and returned later to score 28 runs.
Ireland were all out for 127 runs in 20 overs.
In reply, Nepal could only manage 111-9 in 20 overs.
All the Ireland bowlers were among wickets with Mark Adair, Simi Singh, Barry McCarthy and Andy McBrine all taking two wickets each.
Curtis Campher also chipped in with a wicket to ensure success for all Irish bowlers.
McBrine had the best figures of 13-2 for 4 overs.
Brief scores: UAE 165-8 in 20 overs (Muhammad Waseem 84; Aamir Kaleem 5-29) lost to Oman 165-3 in 19.3 overs (Kashyap Prajapati 69, Shoaib Khan 34)
Ireland 127 all out in 20 overs (George Dockrell 28; Dipendra Singh Airee 4-21, Abinash Bohara 2-29) beat Nepal 111-9 in 20 overs ( Dipendra Singh Airee
28; Andy McBrine 2-13, Barry McCarthy 2-16)
POINTS TABLE
Read as rank, team, played, won, lost, tie, points, net run-rate)
1. UAE 3 2 1 0 0 4 0.547
2. Ireland 3 2 1 0 0 4 0.457
3. Oman 3 1 2 0 0 2 -0.438
4. Nepal 3 1 2 0 0 2 -0.592
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