Oman U16s show grit and growth in narrow defeats at ACC West Zone Cup

Times of Oman

17-05-2025

MUSCAT: The Oman U16 cricket team recently wrapped up their campaign in the ACC Men's U16 West Zone Cup 2025 with a blend of promise and heartbreak — showcasing potential through victories and spirited performances but undone by narrow losses that kept them from progressing further.
Held in Qatar, the tournament saw Oman begin their campaign under skipper Aryan Joshi with a confident seven-wicket win over hosts Saudi Arabia. That early momentum, however, was tested in the following fixtures. Oman's next two defeats — a four-run loss to Bahrain and a three-run loss to Kuwait — came down to the slimmest of margins, both matches well within Oman's grasp.
'We lost two games that were very much within our grasp — extremely close finishes decided by just 3–4 runs. These were matches we should have closed in our favour,' said head coach Parviz Al Balushi on return from Qatar.
He added: 'Overall, the team's performance was promising, though not entirely heartening — largely due to the limited preparation period and the lack of sufficient match exposure.'
Between those heartbreaks, Oman claimed a convincing 6-wicket win over Qatar, chasing down a modest target with confidence and control. Their campaign ended with a tough reality check against a dominant UAE side, who posted a mammoth 346/6 before bowling Oman out for 137 — handing them a 209-run defeat.
Despite the mixed results, individual performances provided clear positives. Opener Kavish Shah amassed 194 runs across five innings, finishing as the tournament's fourth-highest run-scorer. Captain Aryan contributed steadily with 116 runs, offering vital partnerships in the middle order.
On the bowling front, Vignesh Karthikeyan was a standout, claiming 14 wickets in five matches — the second-best return in the tournament. Shravan Kurup supported well with 9 wickets, both bowlers displaying excellent rhythm and control throughout the week.
Reflecting on the narrow defeats, Al Balushi said: 'Chasing targets of 130 or 180 in a 50-over format is absolutely within reach for our boys. But the mental side of the game got the better of them on those occasions. The boys have faced similar situations in domestic cricket, but international pressure, especially for first timers, clearly played a role in those moments.'
Looking ahead, the coach stays upbeat about the squad's future. 'The potential in this group is undeniable. With the right structure and continued exposure, many of these boys are well on track to progress to the U19 level and beyond,' he said.
'I remain optimistic about their future and the value they can add to the development of Oman's youth cricket.'
The coach added: 'The experience gained from close finishes and high-stakes contests is expected to help the young players build composure and match maturity.'
Brief results: Saudi Arabia: 158 all out in 45.5 overs (Vignesh Karthikeyan 5/27, Ayush Shetty 3/22) lost to Oman: 162/3 in 23.2 overs (Kavish Shah 72, Aryan Joshi 42)
Bahrain: 132 all out in 44.4 overs (Shravan Sharat Kurup 4/19, Ayush 3/28) beat Oman: 128 all out in 42.2 overs (Mathew Samuel 36)
Qatar: 106 all out in 39.1 overs (Vihaan Chauhan 4/13, Aryan 2/2) lost to Oman: 107/4 in 20.2 overs(Kavish 39)
Kuwait: 184/8 in 50 overs(Vignesh 4/40, Shravan 2/11) beat Oman: 181/9 in 50 overs (Aryan 50)
UAE: 346/6 in 50 overs (Mohammed Nafees 127; Aryan 2/46, Shravan 2/62 ) beat Oman: 137 all out in 33.2 overs (Kavish 56)