Cricket: Jatinder leads Oman’s fightback to beat Denmark by 3 wickets

Sports Tuesday 13/November/2018 17:59 PM
By: Times News Service
Cricket: Jatinder leads Oman’s fightback to beat Denmark by 3 wickets

MUSCAT: Oman carved out yet another win after a well-crafted half century by Jatinder Singh who batted with aplomb, beating Denmark by three wickets at the ICC World Cricket League Division 3 match in Amerat.
Winning the toss and electing to bat Denmark were immediately pushed on to the backfoot when Oman’s man of the match from the first game Kaleemullah struck in the second over removing opening batsman Z. Khan caught in the slips by Jatinder Singh, the next to follow was H. Shah trapped LBW by Bilal Khan with the scoreboard reading 2 for 9.
F. Kokker coming in at one down tried to steady the ship but was run out by a brilliant piece of fielding on the boundary by Mehran from a direct hit to send him back for 20 from 31 balls. A. Hashmi followed immediately caught by sub N. Dhamba of the bowling of Jay Odedra. Then in walked Denmark skipper M. Henriksen who tried to up the ante but was dismissed when he was caught by wicketkeeper Suraj Kumar fishing at a ball to hand Jay Odedra his second scalp.
The only significant partnership of the Denmark innings was between S. Ahmed and Anique Uddin who threatened to post a huge total but were soon sent back to the hut after putting on 64 runs for the sixth wicket, thereafter Oman put the brakes on the Danes who after a mini collapse were bundled all out for 154 in 41.4 overs.
Jay Odedra with figures of 3 for 30 from 10 overs and Bilal Khan with a match haul of 3 for 36 from 8.4 overs were the main strike bowlers for Oman, the other wicket to fall were shared by Kaleemullah and Zeeshan Maqsood who claimed a wicket a piece.
Needing 155 runs at the required run rate of 3.06, Oman lost opening batsmen Aqib Ilyas for 4 when he was stumped by A. Hashmi of the bowling of Laesgaard. Sufiyan Mehmood was the next to exit caught by Laesgaard of the bowler Ahmad.
With 2 wickets down for 24 in walked Oman skipper Zeeshan Maqsood but he did not stay long after making 17 runs from 33 balls before being caught by Z. Khan of Bashir Shah. Wicketkeeper Suraj Kumar was Bashir Shah’s second victim when he too was dismissed for a paltry 12 runs from 20 balls caught by A. Hashmi. Mehran Khan who featured in a brilliant run out did not last long and was soon back in the pavilion for 14 runs falling to J. Henriksen at deep mid-wicket of the bowling off Anique Uddin. Fayyaz Butt too was sent back after he was run out by Shah.
All hopes were resting on the shoulders of Jatinder Singh who looked like taking Oman across the line but unfortunately he too had to go after being bowled by Ahmad after a well-made 73 of 105 balls.
Khawar Ali who had sustained a shoulder injury while fielding came out to bat with Jay Odedra with the score reading 7 for 145 which meant Oman needed 9 runs for victory, but both batsmen batted cautiously to remain not out on 9 and 2 respectively, to close out the match on 155 for 7 in 47.2 overs.
With this victory Oman now has won all their three games and will be looking forward to facing the United States of America on Friday, November 16.