Oman suffer 42-run defeat to UAE in Asia Cup clash

ABU DHABI: Oman’s wait for a maiden Asia Cup victory continued on Monday as they fell short by 42 runs against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in their Group A fixture at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi.

Chasing a stiff target of 173, the debutants were bundled out for 130 in 18.4 overs, undone by early wickets and UAE’s incisive bowling attack.

The chase began on a shaky note when openers Aamir Kaleem and Jatinder Singh (20) departed cheaply. The middle order could not steady the innings, with Oman reeling at 41 for 4 inside the powerplay.

Debutant Aryan Bisht showed glimpses of promise with a fighting 24, and Vinayak Shukla (20) offered brief resistance, but neither could convert their starts into a match-defining knock.

Partnerships never materialised, and once Bisht fell in the 13th over, Oman’s innings unraveled quickly.

Seamer Junaid Siddique proved unplayable, returning figures of 4 for 23, while support from Haider Ali (2/22) and Muhammad Jawadullah (2/18) kept the pressure relentless. Only tail-ender Shakeel Ahmed (14 not out) stood his ground as Oman’s innings ended at 130, well short of the target.

Earlier, UAE had set up the contest with a disciplined batting display, reaching 172 for 5 in their 20 overs. Alishan Sharafu (51 off 38) gave the hosts a brisk start, and skipper Muhammad Waseem (69 off 54) anchored the innings with a calculated half-century.

Oman’s fielding lapses added to their woes, as two dropped catches allowed Waseem to consolidate and eventually punish the bowlers. Late contributions from Muhammad Zohaib (21) and Harit Kaushik (19 not out) pushed UAE past the 170 mark.

For Oman, Jiten Ramanandi was the pick of the bowlers with 2 for 24, but overall the attack lacked consistency. In the field, missed opportunities proved costly, leaving Oman with plenty to reflect upon before their concluding group game against India on September 19.

 Brief scores: UAE 172 for 5 (Waseem 69, Sharafu 51; Ramanandi 2-24) beat Oman 130 in 18.4 overs (Bisht 24, Jatinder 20, Shukla 20; Siddique 4/23)