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NEW DELHI: The ILT20 Gulf Cricket Championship 2024 witnessed two captivating matches at ICC Academy, Dubai, on Saturday, December 14, as Oman delivered a comprehensive victory over Qatar, and Bahrain clinched a thrilling win against Kuwait.
Both matches showcased remarkable individual performances and intense competition, keeping cricket fans thoroughly entertained.
In the fourth match of the tournament, Oman outclassed Qatar with a commanding 35-run victory, thanks to a stellar performance from Jatinder Singh.
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Batting first after being put in, Oman posted a formidable total of 204 for five in their allotted 20 overs.
Captain Jatinder Singh led from the front with a brilliant knock of 69 off 50 balls, anchoring the innings with skill and grace. His innings featured six 4s and two sixes and laid the foundation for a massive total.
While Jatinder was the steadying force, the explosive finishes by Wasim Ali, who smashed 34 off 19 balls, and Vinayak Shukla, whose unbeaten 40 off just 18 balls included seven fours and a six, ensured Oman crossed the 200-run mark.
Qatar’s bowlers struggled to contain the onslaught, with Ikramullah Khan proving the most expensive, conceding 53 runs in his four overs.
Qatar put up a spirited fight, led by the explosive Muhammad Asim, who smashed 63 off 28 balls, including six 4s and three sixes. Despite his valiant effort, Qatar fell short, finishing at 169 for eight in their 20 overs.
Oman’s bowling attack proved too strong, with Aamir Kaleem spearheading the effort with three wickets for just 19 runs. Wasim Ali chipped in with two crucial wickets, while Jay Odedra provided a vital breakthrough.
Qatar’s innings faltered as wickets fell at regular intervals, with the final nail coming when Muhammad Asim departed in the final over. Oman’s disciplined bowling and energetic fielding sealed the win, earning Jatinder Singh the Player of the Match award for his standout contribution with the bat.
Earlier in the day, the third match of the tournament saw Bahrain secure a nail-biting four-run victory over Kuwait in a low-scoring encounter. Batting first after losing the toss, Bahrain struggled to build momentum and were restricted to 125 for eight in their 20 overs.
Ahmer Bin Nasir stood out for Bahrain with a gritty 42 off 38 balls, holding the innings together amid regular losses at the other end.
Sai Sarthak added a useful 26 off 23 balls, while Kuwait’s bowlers, led by Mohammed Aslam, Mohamed Shafeeq, Mirza Ahmed, and Sayed Monib with two wickets each, kept the Bahrain batters in check. Despite these efforts, Bahrain’s late push allowed them to set a challenging target.
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Kuwait’s chase started poorly as they lost wickets early, with their top order crumbling under pressure. Ravija Sandaruwan, their opener, could only muster five runs before falling to Imran Anwar, who had a memorable outing with the ball.
While Meet Bhavsar’s 27 off 32 and Muhammad Umar’s 21 off 15 provided some resistance, Bahrain’s disciplined bowling attack consistently pegged back Kuwait.
Imran Anwar, with figures of three for 27, dismantled the middle order, while Rizwan Butt delivered an outstanding spell, taking two wickets for just 10 runs in his four overs.
The late fireworks by Sayed Monib, who smashed 12 runs off just three deliveries, gave Kuwait a glimmer of hope, but their innings ultimately folded at 121 in 19.3 overs, leaving them agonizingly short of the target. Imran Anwar was deservingly named Player of the Match for his crucial wickets that tilted the match Bahrain’s way.
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