Toss and Setup
India’s stand-in captain Suryakumar Yadav won the toss and decided to bat first on a dry Abu Dhabi pitch that looked good for stroke play but was expected to slow down in the second innings.
India’s Innings
India posted a solid total of 188 runs for 8 wickets in 20 overs. Sanju Samson anchored the innings with a composed 56 off 45 balls, mixing singles with clean boundaries. Youngsters chipped in with useful cameos but Oman’s disciplined bowling kept picking wickets at regular intervals, preventing India from crossing the 200-run mark.
Oman’s Chase
Chasing 189, Oman surprised everyone with their positive intent. Openers laid a steady platform, and middle-order batsman Aamir Kaleem led the charge with a stylish 64 off 46 balls. Hammar Mirza added a fluent half-century too. However, the asking rate kept climbing as India’s bowlers tightened lines at the death.
Bowling Highlights
Left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh struck crucial blows, reaching a personal milestone of 100 T20I wickets – the fastest by an Indian pacer. Spinners bowled smartly in the middle overs to slow Oman’s momentum. Eventually Oman finished at 167/4 in 20 overs, falling 21 runs short.
Result and Impact
India won by 21 runs, securing top spot in their group and moving into the Super 4 stage of the tournament. Oman, despite the loss, earned praise for their spirited performance and ability to stretch a top side until the final overs.
Key Takeaways
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India’s batting depth showed, but finishing power can still improve.
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Oman’s batting unit proved competitive, hinting at a bright future in Associate cricket.
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Arshdeep Singh’s milestone underlined India’s bench strength in fast bowling.
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