Sonavale, Mirza power Oman to five-wicket win over Qatar

MUSCAT: Karan Sonavale and Hammad Mirza struck commanding half-centuries as Oman produced another authoritative performance in the ACC Men’s Premier Cup, chasing down Qatar’s 272 with five wickets to spare at the YSD-UKM Cricket Oval in Bangi, Malaysia, on Wednesday. The emphatic victory, Oman’s second successive win in Group B, further strengthened their push for a place in the semi-finals and underlined the growing confidence in Sulakshan Kulkarni’s side.Set 273 for victory, Oman raced to 276 for five in just 40.3 overs, with Mirza remaining unbeaten on a composed 84 off 96 balls and captain Vinayak Shukla finishing unbeaten on run-a-ball 46. Sonavale provided the explosive impetus with a superb 83 from 55 balls, including five fours and seven sixes, with a strike rate of 150.The chase was not without early setbacks. Oman slipped to 54 for two inside 10 overs, but Sonavale and Mirza responded with a decisive 100-run third-wicket stand off 69 balls that changed the complexion of the contest.Sonavale attacked with freedom, while Mirza provided stability at the other end as the pair rapidly took Oman towards the target. Sonavale eventually fell at 166, having done much of the damage, but the foundation had been firmly laid for another convincing Oman victory.Mirza then took complete control of the chase. After reaching his half-century, he continued to bat with authority and composure, ensuring Qatar were never able to force their way back into the contest.Following the dismissal of Jiten Ramanandi at 182, Mirza and Shukla added an unbeaten 92-run partnership to take Oman comfortably over the line. Shukla’s assured 46 complemented Mirza’s measured innings that included six boundaries and two maximums as Oman completed the chase with 9.3 overs remaining.Mirza was later named the player of the match.Earlier, Oman’s bowlers had done an excellent job of restricting Qatar to 272 despite useful contributions throughout the innings.Qatar’s opener Zubair Ali top-scored with 77 off 101 balls, while Imal Liyanage made 45 and captain Mirza Mohammed Baig provided late acceleration with 59 from just 38 balls. Daniel Louis also struck a brisk 34 off 25 balls as Qatar moved beyond 250.The key to Oman’s effort, however, was Hassnain Shah, who claimed an impressive four wickets for 58 runs from his 10 overs. Jiten Ramanandi supported him with two wickets, while Jay Odedra returned the excellent figures of one for 32 from his 10 overs.Shah struck repeatedly when Qatar threatened to build momentum, dismissing Zubair, Muhammad Asim, Baig and Shahzeb Afridi to ensure Qatar could not turn several promising starts into a match-defining total.With two wins from two Group B matches, Oman have made an ideal start to their campaign and will carry significant momentum into their remaining league fixtures. Oman next take on Kuwait on September 5 before concluding their group fixtures with the UAE on September 8.Brief scores: Qatar 272 all out in 50 overs (Zubair Ali 77, Mirza Mohammed Baig 59, Imal Liyanage 45; Hassnain Shah 4/58, Jiten Ramanandi 2/60) lost to Oman 276/5in 40.3 overs (Karan Sonavale 83, Hammad Mirza 84*, Vinayak Shukla 46*; Mirza Mohammed Baig 2/45).