ODI World Cup 2023 QualifiersOman stuns Ireland, Sri Lanka starts campaign with crushing win over UAE

By India Today Sports DeskOman secured a stunning win over Ireland on Monday while Sri Lanka showcased their dominance over UAE at the ICC World Cup 2023 Qualifiers.

This was Oman’s first win in ODIs against a full-time member as they were able to pull off the upset with 11 balls to spare.

Opting to bat first, Sri Lanka’s top-order batsmen displayed their class by compiling impressive half-centuries. The team set a commanding total of 355/6, with late contributions from Charith Asalanka and Wanindu Hasaranga helping them get to the highest first-innings score of the tournament thus far.

The quality of Sri Lanka’s spinners came to the fore in the second innings, as Hasaranga dismantled the UAE’s top order by claiming three crucial wickets. His exceptional performance continued, as he ultimately took six wickets to secure a convincing victory for his team.

The match marked the first men’s One-Day International (ODI) encounter between Sri Lanka and the UAE in almost 15 years. UAE won the toss and elected to bowl, opting to leave out Junaid Siddique and introducing Zahoor Khan, Muhammad Jawadullah, and the talented Ali Naseer for their pace options. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, revealed no surprises in their lineup, except for the absence of Dushmantha Chameera due to a pectoral issue. They welcomed back Dimuth Karunaratne into their ODI batting lineup after a two-year gap.

Karunaratne’s return proved fruitful for Sri Lanka as he demonstrated his solid technique in challenging bowling conditions. He struck six boundaries in the Powerplay, setting the stage for a strong opening partnership. Although his partner Pathum Nissanka initially struggled to find his rhythm, he soon found his form and contributed with consecutive boundaries off Muhammad Jawadullah in the fifth over.

The opening duo laid a solid foundation, adding 95 runs for the first wicket and effectively negating the early challenges posed by the bowlers. Kusal Mendis joined forces with Nissanka to capitalize on the strong start, with Nissanka reaching his well-deserved half-century.

Sri Lanka’s commanding performance with the bat set the stage for their bowlers to take control. The spin prowess of Wanindu Hasaranga proved to be the UAE’s undoing, as he claimed key wickets to restrict their scoring and seal an impressive victory for Sri Lanka.

Oman stun Ireland

In a sensational turn of events at the Bulawayo Athletic Club, Oman produced a remarkable run chase to secure a stunning victory over Ireland in the ICC World Cup Qualifiers.

Ireland, after winning the toss and electing to bat, posted a competitive total of 281/7, thanks to some valuable contributions from Harry Tector and George Dockrell. Tector, the ICC Men’s Player of the Month for May 2023, displayed his form with the bat, while Dockrell played a pivotal role in lifting Ireland’s innings towards the end.

Chasing the target, Kashyap Prajapati, Aqib Ilyas, and skipper Zeeshan Maqsood all contributed with crucial half-centuries for Oman, setting the foundation for the thrilling pursuit of victory.

The moment of triumph arrived with 11 balls to spare as Mohammad Nadeem, Ayaan Khan, and Shoaib Khan showcased nerves of steel to guide Oman to an unforgettable win. Nadeem remained unbeaten on a crucial 46*, ensuring his team’s victory and sparking jubilant celebrations among the players.

Earlier in the match, Ireland’s openers, Andy McBrine and Paul Stirling, launched a spirited attack against the Oman bowlers. They displayed aggressive intent, finding the boundaries with ease during the Powerplay. However, their partnership was short-lived as consecutive wickets through the short-ball strategy disrupted their flow.

Despite losing momentum, Ireland fought back through Harry Tector and Lorcan Tucker, who added quick runs in the middle overs to compensate for the setback. George Dockrell played a vital role, accumulating an unbeaten 91* to guide Ireland to a competitive total. Bilal Khan and Fayyaz Butt were the standout bowlers for Oman, taking two wickets each.

In response, Oman suffered an early setback when Jatinder Singh fell cheaply to Mark Adair’s catch at second slip. However, a crucial partnership worth 94 runs between Aqib Ilyas and Kashyap Prajapati steadied the ship. Both batsmen reached impressive half-centuries before Ilyas departed for a well-compiled 52.

Prajapati continued his excellent form, amassing a crucial 72, while skipper Maqsood provided solid support with a well-crafted 59. Josh Little struck twice to give Ireland hope, dismissing Prajapati and Maqsood. However, Ayaan Khan’s run-a-ball 21 and Mohammad Nadeem’s unbeaten 46* guided Oman to a thrilling victory.

Oman’s remarkable run chase has thrown Group B wide open, adding excitement and unpredictability to the ICC World Cup Qualifiers.