Nepal’s national cricket team outplayed Oman in the practice match on Saturday at TU Cricket Ground. Nepal were victorious by five wickets in the warm-up match ahead of the ACC Men’s Premier Cup starting on 18th April.
This is Oman’s second practice match in Nepal ahead of the vital tournament. They defeated Bahrain by 51 runs in the earlier game. Oman are placed in the same group as Nepal in the tournament and are taken as the tough opponent for the home side among the group members.
Invited to bat first, Oman managed 246/9 in the allotted 50 overs. Shoiab Khan scored the ton (110*), smacking nine fours and two sixes. Opener Jatinder Singh added 42, while Muhammad Naseem assisted 24.
For Nepal, Kishore Mahoto picked up three wickets. Pratish GC and Surya Tamanag picked up two each, while Shyam Dhakal (Mousam) and Kushal Malla grabbed a wicket apiece.
Full Scorecard:
In reply, Nepal chased the total in the 45th over after a half-century each from Arjun Saud, Rohit Paudel and Dipendra Singh Airee. Saud made 67, while Paudel and Airee scored 56 and 59 runs respectively. Fayazz Butt picked up a couple of wickets for Oman.
Nepal will start the tournament playing against Malaysia on April 18, followed by a match against Oman itself on April 21. Meanwhile, Oman will play their first match against Qatar at Mulpani Cricket Ground.
The winning team of the ACC Premier Cup will join India and Pakistan in Group A of the Asia Cup 2023, which will take place in September. Furthermore, the top three teams of the Premier Cup will also get the opportunity to feature in the ACC Emerging Cup in July.
Oman Squad: Zeeshan Maqsood (captain), Aaqib Ilyas (vice-captain), Jay Odedera, Kaleemullah, Shoaib Khan, Kashyapkumar Prajapati, Adeel Shafique (wicket-keeper), Jatinder Singh, Mohammad Nadeem, Sandeep Goud, Bilal Khan, Ayaan Khan, Naseem Khushi (wicket-keeper), Fayyaz Butt.
