Defeat host Oman by six wickets to ensure unbeaten record in league phase

India ‘A’ cantered to an impressive six-wickets win over hosts Oman while chasing an underpart target of 141 in the final Group B league match of the ongoing ACC Men's T20 Emerging Teams Asia Cup that was played at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground on Wednesday night.

The third win in a row in as many games, with 28 balls to spare,  ensured that the Men in Blue topped the Group B with six points and will take on Afghanistan ‘A’ in the semi-finals on Friday night. Pakistan ‘A’, with four points, also qualified as Group B runners-up and will take on Sri Lanka A in their semi-finals earlier in the day. For Oman ‘A’ it was a forgettable outing as they lost all their league matches and ended up behind their Middle East neighbors UAE ‘A’

Earlier Oman ‘A’ skipper Jatinder Singh which won the toss and elected to bat first,  managed to score 140 for 5 in their allotted 20 overs, after being reduced t0 33 for 3 inside five overs (46 for 3 in six overs) as pacers Aaqib Khan, Nishant Sindhu and Ramandeep Singh picked up a wicket each .

Middle order batter Mohammad Nadeem who anchored the innings top scored with 41 off 49-balls and put on valuable 47 runs (60 balls) for the fourth wicket. He later added 54 (31 balls) for the fifth, following a quick fire unbeaten 28 runs off 15 balls by wicketkeeper batter Hammad Mirza who smashed one four and two sixes, before edging one behind the wicket keeper Anuj Rawat off pacer Rasikh Salam in the final over of the innings.

In reply, India chased down the target in 15.2 overs thanks to an 85-run enterprising partnership between Indian captain Tilak Varma (36 off 30) and Ayush Badoni (51 off 27) for the third wicket, after Abhishek Sharma (34 off 15) provided a flying start upfront.

The 24-year old who took the lead role took on leg spinner Samay Shrivastava in the 10^th over  which yielded 24 runs (4, 4, 6, 6, 4, 0) at the back of three boundaries and two massive sixes from third man to long-off region.  Ayush who completed his fifty off 25 balls (6 x 4, 2 x 6) however was dismissed soon after by Aamir Kaleem at deep mid-wicket region while attempting another big one. Ramdeep scored the winning six to ensure India ‘A’ entry into the semi final.

Brief Scores (Group B League Match):

Oman ‘A’:  140 for 5 in 20 overs (Mohammad Nadeem 41 (49b: 3x4s), Hammad Mirza 28* (15b: 1x4, 2x6s), Wasim Ali 24 (28b: 2x4s, 1x6); Ramandeep Singh 1/2, Nishant Sindhu 1/12, Sai Kishore 1/21, Rasikh Salam 1/23, Aaqib Khan 1/38) lost to India ‘A’: 146 for 4 in 15.2 overs (Ayush Badoni 51(27b: x4s, 2x6s), Tilak Varma 36* (30b: 1x4, 2x6s), Abhishek Sharma 34 (15b: 5x4s, 1x6); Karan Sonavale 1/9, Aamir Kaleem 1/13, Sufyan Mehmood 1/22, Jay Odedra 1/27) by six wickets and 4.4 overs to spare. Player of the Match: Ayush Badoni (India)

Photo Above : Player of the Match Ayush Ayush Badoni smaahed 51 off 27 balls against Oman (Photo courtsey ACC)