Cricket: Assarain edges PTI, Al Turki downs Muscat

MUSCAT: Assarain returned to winning ways with a nail-biting 4-run victory against Passage to India in a T20 Premier League game at OC Turf 1 on Friday.
In the day’s other match, Al Turki got the better of Muscat CT in an exciting 7-run win at the same venue.
Assarain’s 150 for 4 had major contributions from opener Gustav Burger (41 off 42), Naseem Khushi (29 not out off 19) and Muhammed Nadeem (29 not out off 17). Ihsan Ullah claimed two wickets for PTI.
PTI was cruising at 78 for 2 in the 12th over but was slowed down by the loss of some quick wickets as it reached 105 for 6 in the 16th over. In the end, it could manage only 146 for 9 before its quota of overs ended, losing the game by 7 runs. Pruthvikumar Machhi (31 off 34) and Sultan Ahmed (29 off 24) were its main scorers. Kaleemullah bagged 3 for 39 while Rafiullah and Shakeel Ahmad took two wickets each.
Earlier, Jignesh Patel’s fine all-round show enabled Al Turki to beat Muscat in a low-scoring thriller. Batting first, Al Turki was restricted to 124 for 9 after being reduced to 74 for 6. Jignesh topscored with 34 off 19 while Suraj Kumar and Jayam Singh contributed 23 each. Munis Ansari and Baadal Singh were the pick of the bowlers, taking three wickets each.
Muscat could nt get off to a good start either and was struggling at 46 for 4 before landing in deeper trouble at 80 for 8 in the 17th over. It could add only 37 runs more before the overs ended, scoring 117 for 8. Vaibhav Wategainkar was the leading scorer with 35 off 31 while Shaoib Khan remained unbeaten at 28 off 16.
Brief scores (Premier League T20): Assarain 150 for 4 in 20 overs (Gustav Burger 41 – 3x4, 1x6, Naseem Khushi 29 not out – 3x4, 1x6, Muhammed Nadeem 29 not out – 1x4, 2x6. Ihsan Ullah 2-21) beat PTI 146 for 9 in 20 overs (Pruthvikumar Machhi 31 – 1x4, 1x6, Sultan Ahmed 29 – 4x4. Kaleemullah 3-39, Rafiullah 2-13, Shakeel Ahmad 2-23) by 4 runs. Jignesh and Rohit Malik claimed two wickets each.
Brief scores (Premier League T20): Al Turki NMC 124 for 9 in 20 overs (Jignesh Patel 34 – 2x4, 2x6, Suraj Kumar 23 – 3x4, Jayam Sunil Singh 23 – 2x4. Munis Ansari 3-19, Baadal Singh 3-21, Rajeshkumar Ranpura 2-22) defeated Muscat CT 117 for 8 in 20 overs (Vaibhav Wategaonkar 35 – 2x4, 1x6, Shoaib Khan 28 – 3x4, 1x6, Jignesh Patel 2-15, Rohit Malik 2-21) by 7 runs.