Oman coached by former Sri Lanka captain Duleep Mendis stunned defending champs Sri Lanka Emerging in the opening Group B fixture of the ACC Emerging Teams Cup cricket tournament when they pulled off a creditable four wickets win with seven balls to spare at Cox’s Bazar on Thursday.
Invited to bat first Sri Lanka Emerging Team were dismissed off the last ball for 268 with skipper Charith Asalanka (57 off 65 balls, 2 fours, 2 sixes) and Ashen Bandara (62 off 51 balls, 4 fours, 2 sixes) scoring half centuries apiece.
Sri Lanka Emerging were given a solid start by openers Pathum Nissanka (40) and Minod Bhanuka (33) who put on 58 off 75 balls. At one stage of the innings Sri Lanka Emerging looked well poised to post a total beyond 300 when they were 202-4 in the 41st over but they lost their last four wickets for 14 runs that included two run outs. Oman’s run chase was spearheaded by opener Jatinder Singh who scored a brilliant 131 not out off 150 balls (13 fours, 1 six).
He shared a match-winning stand of 148 with Suraj Kumar (70 off 77 balls, 4 fours, 3 sixes) after Oman had lost their first four wickets for 90.
Left-arm spinner Amila Aponso was the pick of the Lankan bowlers finishing with three wickets for 40 runs off his 10 overs.
In the other match played at Savar, India Emerging thrashed Nepal by seven wickets in Group B.
Scores: Sri Lanka Emerging 268 in 50 overs (Pathum Nissanka 40, Minod Bhanuka 33, Charith Asalanka 57, Ashen Bandara 62, Ramesh Mendis 28, Jay Odedra 2/52, Mohamed Sanuth 3/41)
Oman 269-6 in 48.5 overs (Jatinder Singh 131 n.o., Suraj Kumar 70, Naseem Khushi 21, Amila Aponso 3/40)
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