MUSCAT: Pakistan Shaheens registered their first win of the tournament, defeating Oman by 74 runs in the seventh match of the ACC Men’s T20 Emerging Teams Asia Cup. The match took place at the Oman Cricket Academy Ground on Monday afternoon. Oman, chasing a target of 185, was restricted to 111-7 in their 20 overs.
After opting to bat first, the Shaheens posted a strong total of 185-5. Qasim Akram top-scored with 48, while Rohail Nazir and Arafat Minhas added crucial runs, remaining unbeaten on 41 and 31, respectively.
Pakistan Shaheens faced an early setback when Oman’s Muzahir Raza dismissed both Mohammad Haris and Yasir Khan cheaply, leaving the Shaheens struggling at 13-2 within 2.4 overs. However, Qasim Akram and Omair Bin Yousuf stabilized the innings with a 72-run third-wicket partnership, taking the score to 79-2 by the halfway mark. Omair contributed 25 runs from 21 balls.
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Qasim showcased his power-hitting skills, smashing three sixes and two boundaries during his 38-ball knock. He was dismissed just shy of a half-century when Oman’s Samay Shrivastava bowled him out with the score at 106-4 in 13.3 overs. Abdul Samad added a quick 20 from 12 balls, which included two boundaries and a six.
At 116-5 in 14.5 overs, Rohail Nazir, playing his first match of the tournament, joined Arafat Minhas at the crease. The pair put on a remarkable 69-run unbeaten partnership for the sixth wicket, boosting the Shaheens to their highest total of the tournament. Rohail dazzled with a 20-ball 41, hitting three fours and two sixes, while Arafat’s 15-ball 31 included two boundaries and two sixes. The duo’s late surge saw the Shaheens add 38 runs in the final two overs, leaving Oman with a challenging target of 186.
In Oman’s chase, they struggled to build momentum, managing only 34-1 in the powerplay. Qasim Akram took the first wicket for Shaheens, dismissing Aamir Kaleem for 11. Oman continued to lose wickets, with Karan Sonavale and captain Jatinder Singh (24 off 29 balls) falling in the seventh and ninth overs, respectively.
Wasim Ali top-scored for Oman with 28 runs from 31 balls, but the team could only muster 57 runs in the last 10 overs, finishing at 111-7. Zaman Khan was the standout bowler for Shaheens, taking 2-17, while Arafat Minhas, Mohammad Imran, Qasim Akram, Shahnawaz Dahani, and Sufiyan Moqim each chipped in with a wicket.
Pakistan Shaheens will face the UAE in their next match on Wednesday, 23 October, at 2 PM PKT.
Scores in Brief:
Pakistan Shaheens 185-5, 20 overs (Qasim Akram 48, Rohail Nazir 41*, Arafat Minhas 31*, Omair Bin Yousuf 25; Muzahir Raza 2-29)
Oman 111-7, 20 overs (Wasim Ali 28, Jatinder Singh 24; Zaman Khan 2-17)
Player of the Match: Rohail Nazir (Pakistan Shaheens)
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