NEW DELHI: The ILT20 Gulf Cricket Championship continued to thrill spectators at the ICC Academy in Dubai, with dominant performances from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia marking a happy Sunday inside both camps.
With both teams securing crucial victories, the results further shape the tournament standings.
In the first match of the day, UAE overcame Oman by 24 runs, demonstrating a balanced display of batting and bowling.
Captain Muhammad Waseem led from the front with an electrifying 48 off 31 balls, anchoring the innings alongside opening partner Tanish Suri’s steady 40 (38).
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Their efforts powered UAE to a competitive 157/7. Oman’s Samay Shrivastava impressed with figures of 3/29, including the vital wickets of Waseem and Alishan Sharafu.
Oman’s chase started with promise as skipper Jatinder Singh (26 off 24) and Aamir Kaleem (23 off 23) forged steady contributions.
However, UAE.’s bowlers struck timely blows, with Junaid Siddique (2/24) and Muhammad Jawadullah (2/25) delivering disciplined spells.
Oman faltered in the middle overs, losing wickets regularly, and finished at 133/8, falling short by 24 runs. Muhammad Waseem’s all-round impact earned him the Player of the Match award.
Saudi Arabia cruise past Qatar
The day’s second match witnessed Saudi Arabia overpower Qatar by nine wickets, riding on a masterclass from Usman Khalid.
Opting to field first, Saudi Arabia’s bowlers, led by Ishtiaq Ahmad’s brilliant 4/12, dismantled Qatar’s top order. While Muhammad Asim (60 not out off 47) fought valiantly, Qatar could only manage 123/9 in their 20 overs.
Saudi Arabia’s chase was clinical, with Usman Khalid smashing an unbeaten 75 off 48 balls. His knock, laced with seven fours and four sixes, nullified Qatar’s modest total.
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Khalid found an able partner in Abdul Waheed, who contributed an unbeaten 35 (38). Together, they steered their team to victory in just 16 overs, solidifying Saudi Arabia’s position in the points table.
Following the two matches on Sunday, UAE. remain unbeaten, topping the table with two wins from two games and an impressive net run rate of 1.289.
Saudi Arabia’s win boosts them to fourth, closely contesting Kuwait and Oman. Qatar, with back-to-back defeats, languish at the bottom, needing a dramatic turnaround to stay in contention.
