Today's Edition
UAE beat hosts Oman by 55 runs in the final of the Asian Cricket Council Premier Cup at Al Emarat Oval on Sunday to secure their place for the 2025 Asia Cup. By virtue of winning the qualifying tournament, UAE will now rub shoulders with heavyweights India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka in the continental showpiece.
The UAE rely heavily for momentum in the performance of the top-order batsmen, especially captain and opener Muhammad Waseem, and he led from the front with responsibility after being put in to bat by Oman in the afternoon in the Muscat suburb. UAE made 204-4 and Oman wilted in the pressure of chasing such a high total.
Waseem (100) did most of the talking with the bat while Alishan Sharafu (34) decided to be the able foil. While Waseem went on from strength to strength, Sharafu blinked in giving a return catch to bowler Zeeshan Maqsood when UAE were going at nine runs an over. Vishnu Sukamaran also followed Sharif’s lead in giving steady support until he scored 18 runs.
That brought Asif Khan (38 in 16 balls) to the crease and the explosive duo ensured UAE crossed the 200-run mark. Waseem was dismissed as soon as he reached his century with seven sixes and six boundaries. Oman’s top-three batsmen all fell to Junaid Siddiqui in his first eight balls and never recovered. They limped over the line at 149-9 with some rearguard batting by Pratik Athavale (49, run out).
