ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup Asia Division 2 Qualifier Final winners Oman and Nitish Ndendala won Player of the Tournament: The ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup Asia Division 2 Qualifier was won by Oman today in Bangkok, Thailand, as they easily defeated Hong Kong, China by 100 runs.
They asserted their dominance throughout the game with Player of the Tournament Nitish Nadendla hitting a brilliant 50 from 34 balls to guide them to 249/5. Saumya Sampat claimed the Player of the Match award for taking three wickets and hitting 48 in the winning cause.
As per the game plan, Oman won the toss and elected to bat first. Opener Gaurav Dinesh hit two boundaries in the first over but Daniel Mapp removed him in the 5th over.
Rishan Shah had taken 10 wickets before the final and alongside the spin of Shayan Puri, put the brakes on Oman’s scoring as they got to 32/1 after the first Powerplay.
Oman reached the team 50 in the 17th over with spinners Puri and Harry Hodgson bowling well to keep the scoring modest between Saumya Sampat and Jeet Shah.
The Oman batters finally moved to attack left-arm spinner Puri in his last over and this helped them bring up the 100 in the 28th over. The partnership was building strongly before leg-spinner Arya Panjwani made the breakthrough, trapping Saumya lbw for 48.
Jeet Shah completed his half-century in 97 balls before Panjwani claimed his second wicket, this time bowling Aneek Chakrovarty. Shah fell soon afterwards—lbw to Hodgson before the leg-spinner struck again moments later with the wicket of Oman skipper Rahil Habibulla as they slipped to 145/5.
As it looked like the match had started to swing in favour of Hong Kong, China, Nadlendla and Rohan Ramachandran rebuilt the innings before a flurry of big shots came to bring up their 100 partnership. The pair helped Oman set the biggest total of the competition – 249/5.
Nadlendla finished with 51 from 34 balls while Ramachandran supported well with 49 from 53 balls.
With the asking rate at five-an-over, Hong Kong, China lost their first wicket in just the third over, the dangerous Taran Laungani chipping to mid-on off Varshieth Dinesh for 4.
Captain Shiv Mathur, who had scored valuable runs in the competition to date then fell, was caught behind for 4 off Puladith Ralalage, leaving the team reeling at 17/2.
Arya Panjwani and Aarez Dar stemmed the fall of wickets momentarily and took the total to 44 when Panjwani was bowled by Saumya Sampat for 15. The fourth wicket then fell to Arya Sampat with Khrish Butani adjudged lbw without scoring.
Oman took their fifth wicket when off-spinner Saumya Sampat bowled Harry Hodgson for 4 and Hong Kong, China were struggling at 70/5 after 20 overs.
The left-arm wrist-spinner Prathiesh Ramesh claimed the next wicket as Aarez Dar fell for a battling 28. Matthew Clayton and Daniel Mapp then built a partnership to take Hong Kong, China beyond 100 before Mapp was bowled by Gaurav Dinesh.
Despite the challenges posed by the opposition bowlers, Clayton reached his 50 from 87 balls but was bowled by Saumya Sampat on the next ball, ending with figures of 3/25 to go with his 48 runs.
Rohan Ramachandran took the ninth wicket as Hong Kong, China’s inning ended on 149/9, with Oman winning the final comfortably by 100 runs.Saumya Sampat was named Player of the Match, with his compatriot Nadendla securing the Player of the Tournament prize.
Malaysia’s Mohammad Akram was named Batter of the Tournament while Janath Herathliyanage of Kuwait won Bowler of the Tournament.
Oman captain Rahil Habibulla said: “I’m feeling proud of our players and the backing we have from our coaching staff and management. It’s been an incredible journey for us, one that started two months ago.
Although, it was a journey that started two years ago for me, falling short at the knockout stage last time around in 2022 was something that’s hurt for a long time. However, this victory gives me and the whole team no better feeling than putting every yard behind us and setting right every time we stepped onto the field.
“We had a majority of a young bunch of players playing a tournament of such stake for the first time and it’s been an honour to lead them. We look forward to doing something big in Division 1 ahead and aim for the glory that’s to come.
Lastly, I would like to thank the Oman Cricket Board and its staff for always supporting and believing in us and providing us a platform to express our talent.”
Oman coach Aamir Kaleem said: “It’s a very good feeling winning a tournament of this stature. The conditions here were hot and humid and such conditions are not favourable to play the longer format of the game.
I am proud of the way our team showed character and played outstanding cricket to lift the trophy. I would commend each and every individual as they have risen to be matchwinners in all departments in every situation the game brought to us.
“We have remained unbeaten throughout the tournament and that speaks how well we have been against every opposition. I would like to commend our skipper Rahil Habibulla for leading the team extremely well and being decisive and on top of every decision made on-field makes my job easy and helps me work with the team in a better way.
We had 10-11 players playing for the first time in an international event.”I would like to thank Oman Cricket and our Head Coach Duleep Mendis for believing in us and in my skills as a coach to help them perform and develop their cricketing acumen.”
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