MUSCAT: Oman delivered a nail-biting performance, defeating Bahrain by two runs in a crucial Gulf Cup T20 Championship group stage match on Tuesday at the ICC Academy in Dubai. This narrow win, Oman’s second of the tournament, keeps their hopes of retaining the title alive after an earlier loss to hosts UAE.
Opting to bat first, Oman managed a modest 130/8 in 20 overs. Mohammad Nadeem led the charge with a vital 47 off 49 balls, forming a key fifth-wicket partnership of 50 runs with Vinayak Shukla, who contributed 33 off 24. Despite disciplined bowling by Bahrain, Oman fought back to post a defendable total. Imran Khan, Imran Anwar, and Rizwan Butt each claimed two wickets for Bahrain.
Bahrain’s chase started shakily as Oman’s bowlers, spearheaded by Mehran Khan and Mohammad Nadeem, kept the opposition under pressure. Asif Ali’s impressive 52 off 44 balls gave Bahrain hope, supported by Ahmer Bin Nasir’s 25. However, Oman’s bowlers, including Aamir Kaleem, Samay Shrivastav, and Shakeel Ahmed, struck crucial blows to derail Bahrain’s momentum.
In a dramatic final over, Bahrain required 14 runs to win but fell short, finishing at 128/8. Shakeel Ahmed’s tight bowling and a crucial runout sealed Oman’s two-run triumph. The victory places Oman third in the standings, tied on points with Kuwait and Bahrain but behind on net run rate.
Oman now faces Saudi Arabia next, followed by a decisive match against Kuwait on December 20. The top two teams will compete for the championship in the final on December 21, setting the stage for an intense showdown.
