ABU DHABI: Oman’s hopes of securing their first-ever Asia Cup victory were dashed in Abu Dhabi as they suffered a 42-run defeat to the United Arab Emirates in their Group A encounter at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium. Chasing a challenging target of 173, the debutants faltered with the bat, managing only 130 runs in 18.4 overs. Early wickets and sustained pressure from the UAE bowlers left Oman on the back foot throughout the innings, underscoring the gulf in experience between the two sides at this level of competition.
The chase began poorly for Oman as both openers, Aamir Kaleem and Jatinder Singh, fell cheaply, with the score slipping to 41 for 4 inside the powerplay. The middle order failed to anchor the innings, and partnerships never took shape, which prevented Oman from mounting a credible challenge. Debutant Aryan Bisht provided brief hope with a fighting 24 runs, while Vinayak Shukla chipped in with 20, but both were unable to convert their starts into meaningful contributions that could shift the momentum.
The UAE bowling attack proved relentless, spearheaded by seamer Junaid Siddique, who delivered an outstanding spell of 4 for 23. He received able support from Haider Ali and Muhammad Jawadullah, who chipped in with two wickets apiece to keep the pressure constant. With wickets tumbling at regular intervals, Oman’s lower order had little choice but to resist as best they could, with only tail-ender Shakeel Ahmed remaining unbeaten on 14. Once Bisht departed in the 13th over, Oman’s innings unraveled quickly, sealing the outcome well before the final overs.
Earlier in the day, UAE had posted a competitive total of 172 for 5 from their 20 overs, built around a brisk start from Alishan Sharafu’s 51 and a steady, anchoring 69 from captain Muhammad Waseem. Oman’s fielding mistakes added to their difficulties, with two crucial dropped catches allowing Waseem to capitalize and guide his team past the 170 mark. Jiten Ramanandi stood out for Oman with figures of 2 for 24, but overall the bowling lacked consistency. The defeat leaves Oman still searching for their maiden Asia Cup win and with much to consider before their concluding group match against India on September 19.
