All-Omani team shows promising signs in hard-fought T20 series
MUSCAT: A determined All-Omani Development Team came close to pulling off a remarkable series win against the visiting Bahraini National Team in a recently concluded three-match T20 series at the Oman Cricket Academy ground in Al Amerat.
Despite losing the series 2-1, the all-Omani side earned praise for their resilience, growing maturity, and ability to compete until the very last ball.
For a team built entirely around domestic talent, the performances were a sign of exciting progress in Oman's cricketing pipeline.
Head coach of the team, Prashanth Chandran said: 'As the coach of the All-Omani Development Team, I'm incredibly proud of the players' mindset and their eagerness to learn.'
He added: 'Despite their limited cricketing experience and match practice, they showed tremendous grit and competed hard in all three games against Bahrain."
Chandran said: "The final match, taken down to the very last ball, was a true display of their fighting spirit and desire to win. With structured training and consistent match exposure, I firmly believe this team has the potential to develop into a highly competitive unit that can make Oman proud on the regional and continental stage.'
The three-match series offered a range of challenges for the Omani side, but they responded with character.
The opening game was a close-fought contest, with Bahrain setting a modest target of 144/8, thanks to tight bowling spells from Faris Khalid Al Balushi (2/12) and Shoaib Ismail Al Balushi (2/18). Oman fell just short in the chase, finishing at 135/7 despite a well-constructed 56 from Sufyan Mehmood and a steady 34 from Shoaib.
The second match saw the hosts come roaring back with a high-scoring win. Batting first, Oman posted a commanding 188/4, led by a fluent 61 from Shoaib and a powerful 50 from Mohammed Al Balushi. Bahrain responded with a spirited chase but were stopped at 185/7, with Faris once again impressing with the ball, claiming four crucial wickets.
With the series level at 1-1, the decider turned out to be a nail-biter. Oman put up 165/6 on the board, built around Majid Al Balushi's 40 and another solid knock by Mohammed (27).
Defending the total, Rashad Al Balushi nearly turned the tide with a devastating spell of 5/12. However, Bahrain's Abdulla Parvej played a match-winning hand, scoring 97 runs and steering his team to victory by just one wicket off the final delivery.
While the result may not have gone in Oman's favour, the series featured a number of standout performances.
Bahrain's Abdulla Parvej topped the run charts with 127 runs, including his match-winning 97 in the final encounter.
For Oman, Shoaib Ismail Al Balushi impressed with a total of 118 runs across the three games, closely followed by Sufyan Mehmood, who amassed 115 runs.
On the bowling front, Faris Khalid Al Balushi led the charge for Oman with seven wickets, while Rashad Al Balushi made a major impact with his five-wicket haul in the final game.
The series offered a valuable glimpse into the potential that lies within the country's domestic circuit.
Brief scores:
1st T20 match: Bahraini National Team 144/8 (Faris Khalid Al Balushi 2/12, Shoaib Ismail Al Balushi 2/18) beat Oman Development Team 135/7 (Sufyan Mehmood 56 (47), Shoaib Ismail Al Balushi 34 (31).
2nd T20 match: Oman Development Team 188/4 (Shoaib Ismail Al Balushi 61 (39), Mohammed Al Balushi 50 (30)) beat Bahrain National Team 185/7 (Faris Khalid Al Balushi 4/38, Sufyan Mehmood 0/26).
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