Oman was eliminated from the T20 Gulf Cup Cricket Championship after a three-wicket loss to Kuwait. Kuwait will face the UAE in the final, advancing thanks to a superior Net Run Rate after both teams finished with six points. Oman, despite a strong showing from Vinayak Shukla, could not maintain consistency throughout the tournament, leading to their early exit.
MUSCAT: Defending champions Oman faced elimination from the T20 Gulf Cup Cricket Championship following a three-wicket defeat to Kuwait in their final league match at the ICC Academy in Dubai. This loss allowed Kuwait to advance to the final against the UAE after both teams finished with six points. Kuwait secured their place based on a superior Net Run Rate (NRR) of +0.525 compared to Saudi Arabia’s -0.166.
Oman, with a revamped squad under Coach Duleep Mendis, showed moments of brilliance yet struggled with consistency, ultimately resulting in their early exit after narrow defeats to Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Kuwait. In the deciding match, Oman set a competitive total of 143/8, bolstered by a resilient performance from wicketkeeper-batter Vinayak Shukla, who scored an unbeaten 52 runs off 29 balls. However, a mid-innings collapse under tight bowling restricted their scoring potential after they initially led at 50/1.
Kuwait entered the chase needing 144 runs and a strong innings from Meet Bhavsar, who scored 63 runs off 46 balls, propelled them forward. Despite a rocky start that saw them at 11/2, Bhavsar formed crucial partnerships, including a significant 74-run stand with Muhammad Umar, who contributed 36 runs. Kuwait eventually reached the target with three balls remaining, securing their place in the final. Oman’s Jay Odedra and Shakeel Ahmed each took two wickets but could not prevent Kuwait’s successful chase.
The T20 Gulf Cup Cricket Championship serves as a regional platform for teams in the Gulf area, offering a competitive arena for emerging cricket nations such as Oman and Kuwait. The tournament format includes a series of league matches where teams compete for a position in the final. Oman, having been the defending champions, entered this edition of the tournament with high expectations but were unable to maintain their title due to inconsistent performances and critical losses in key matches.
In summary, Oman’s defense of their T20 Gulf Cup title came to an end with a three-wicket defeat to Kuwait, who advanced to the final. Despite a commendable effort from players like Vinayak Shukla and strong bowling from Jay Odedra and Shakeel Ahmed, Oman’s struggle with consistency ultimately led them to exit the tournament prematurely. Meanwhile, Kuwait’s resilient performance, particularly from Meet Bhavsar, ensured their place in the championship match against the UAE.
Original Source: timesofoman.com
