Gulf Cricket T20I: Qatar's big win may not be enough for them

Host Qatar defeated Saudi Arabia by seven wickets in their last league encounter to jump to second place but that may not be enough for them to qualify for the final of the Gulf Cricket T20I Championship, which is underway at the West End Park International Stadium in Doha.

This was the fifth and final match for Qatar, who now have six points, as well as for Saudi Arabia, who failed to score even a single victory.

Friday’s second match between Oman and Kuwait, who are third and fourth respectively with four points each from four matches, will see the winner of the game making it to the final after pipping Qatar due to better run rate. While Qatar have a net run rate of -0.562, Oman and Kuwait have net run rates of +0.538 and +0.418.

Bahrain too have an outside chance. Although they too have four points, they face table-toppers United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Friday’s first match and it will require a massive victory for them to take their negative (-0.613) run rate to a very superior level needed to qualify.

Coming back to the Qatar-Saudi match, the latter batted first and scored 148/6 in 20 overs with opener Abdul Waheed scoring 46 off 42 balls and Umair Sharif making 39 off 22 balls. Adnan Mirza took 3/13 for Qatar.

In response the home team chased down the total in 18.4 overs. Saqlain Arshad (39 off 35 balls), Adnan Mirza (20 off 17 balls), Imal Liyanage (37 off 28 balls) and Muhammad Tanveer (42 off 28 balls), who got Player of the Match award, were the scorers for the winners.

In Wednesday’s late game, Oman thrashed Saudi Arabia by 47 runs to stay in contention. Oman scored 175/6. Wicketkeeper-batsman Naseem Khushi scored 64 off 45 balls while Ayaan Khan (34 off 27) and Rafiullah (32 off 17) were also among the runs. In response, the Saudis could make only 128/7 in 20 overs with Abdul Waheed top-scoring with 28 and Umair Sharif scoring an unbeaten 44 off 36 balls.

Ayaan Khan was the Player of the Match for his 2/16 and 34.

In Wednesday’s first match, UAE thrashed Qatar by 60 runs to move to top of the standings. Aryansh Sharma top-scored with 58 off 44 as UAE scored 166/7 in 20 overs.

Qatar were bowled out for 106 in 18.1 overs in response. Pace bowler Zahoor Khan picked 4/16 while fellow pacer Ali Naseer (2/17) and left-arm spinner Ayaan Afzal Khan (2/23) also took wickets.

Cricket, Gulf Cricket T20I, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman, UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain