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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2016
SPORTS Unbeaten Assarain team retain Premier Division T20 crown While Friday’s comfortable victory over Enhance Oman ensured Assarain retained the T20 crown, Saturday’s comprehensive win against Muscat CT came as an icing on the cake in the team’s celebrations
MUSCAT: Assarain capped another season of their dominance in the Oman Cricket Premier Division Twenty20 competition with back to back victories. After sealing the title with a comfortable victory over Enhance Oman on Friday, Assarain put an icing on the cake of their title celebrations with a comprehensive win over Muscat CT on Saturday. The unbeaten champions ended the T20 season with 28 from maximum available points of 30 and an all-win record. Their 49-run win over Enhance Oman at the Ministry of Sports of Affairs Ground I on Friday had ensured Assarain retained the T20 crown they first lifted in the inaugural edition during the last season. Assarain stamped their authority on Enhance thanks to an all-round team effort, the highlight of which
UNBEATEN CHAMPIONS: Assarain team retained the Oman Cricket’s Twenty20 Championships trophy with an unbeaten record. – Supplied photo
was a whirlwind 40-run knock off just 11 balls by Naseem Khushi. After electing to bat first, Assarain were given a good start by opening batsmen Zeeshan Maqsood and Arun Poulose, the former scoring 33 off 24 with two fours and two sixes and the latter making 45 in 36 with four fours and two sixes. Later, Gustav Burger and Mohammed Nadeem contributed 32 and 22 runs respectively. But it was Naseem Kushi’s swashbuckling knock that powered Assarain to a total of 184 for six in 20 overs. Naseem Kushi’s 11-ball 40-run
Dhamba contributed 31, 25 and 21 respectively.
innings included four fours and three sixes. For Enhance, Vishnu Mohandas claimed four wickets while Sufyan Mahmood and Nester Dhamba took one wicket each. Assarain then restricted Enhance to 135 for nine in 19.2 overs
with Kaleemullah and Sindo Michael taking three wickets each. Mohammed Nadeem and Ahmed Raza claimed one apiece. Khawar Ali with 32 runs was the top scorer for Enhance while Babar Ali, Noorul Riaz and Nester
OMAN CRICKET
Icing on the cake On Saturday, Assarain defeated Muscat CT by nine wickets. After electing to field first, Assarain bowled out Muscat for 108 in 18.4 overs with Mohammed Nadeem claiming three wickets and Shahan Akram and Zeeshan Maqsood taking two each. Aaqib Sulheri was the top scorer for Muscat with 30 runs. In reply, Assarain raced to 109 in just 12.4 overs, losing only one wicket in the process. Zeeshan Maqsood smashed an unbeaten
51 off 30 balls with three fours and three sixes. Arun Poulose made 47 in 30 balls with four fours and three sixes. Brief scores: Assarain 184 for 6 in 20 overs (Arun Poulose 45; Vishnu Mohandas 4/22) bt Enhance Oman 135 for 9 in 19.2 overs (Kaleem Ullah 3/18). Points: Enhance Oman – 0, Assarain – 5. Brief scores: Muscat CT 108 in 18.4 overs (Aaqib Sulheri 30; Mohammed Nadeem 3/24) lost to Assarain 109 for 1 in 12.4 overs (Zeeshan Maqsood 51 n.o., Arun Poulose 47).
FOOTBALL
Allardyce’s priority is plugging leaks at Crystal Palace
A DIVISION: Salman Stores players celebrate their victory over IT Work. – Supplied photo
Al Turki defeat Passage to India MUSCAT: Al Turki recorded a 70-run win over Passage to India (PTI) in an Oman Cricket Premier Division T20 match on Friday. Batting first, Al Turki put on 136 for six in 20 overs. Ajay Lalcheta and Gulam Shaikh top scored with 29 runs each. In reply, PTI were all out for 66 in 18.5 overs. Jay Odedera, Gopenedra Bohara and Rohit Malik were the pick of Al Turki bowlers, claiming two wickets each to claim the bonus point win. Brief scores: Al Turki 136 for 6 in 20 overs (Ajay Lalcheta 29, Gulam Shaikh 29) bt Passge to India 66 in 18.5 overs (Jay Odedera 2/9). Points: Al Turki – 5, PTI – 0. Easy for Salman Stores In an A Division match, Salman Stores defeated IT Work by 131 runs. Batting first, Salman Stores
(Usman 58; Imran Haider 3/14). Points: IT Work – 0, Salman Stores – 3.
FAIRTRADE STARS: Vijayanand, left, and Raza Mohsin. – Supplied photo
piled up 251 for nine in 40 overs. Imran Haider top scored with 77. Irfan Khalid claimed three wickets for IT Work. In reply, It Work were bowled out for 120 in 27.3 overs. Usman
top scored with 58. Imran Haider claimed three wickets for Salman Stores to claim the bonus point win. Brief scores: Salman Stores 251 for 9 in 40 overs (Imran Haider 77) bt IT Work 120 in 27.3 overs
Fairtrade win In a B Division match, Fairtrade defeated SARCO by 62 runs. Batting first, Fairtrade were all out after putting up 212 in 29.4 overs. Vjayanand top scored with 117. Zaheer Khan and Praveen Achary claimed three wickets each for SARCO. In return, SARCO were bowled out for 150 in 25.1 overs. Mohammed Moshin claimed four wickets for Fairtrade to enable the bonus point win. Brief scores: Fairtrade 212 in 29.4 overs (Vijay Anand 117; Zaheer Khan 3/31) bt SARCO 150 in 25.1 overs (Mohammed Moshin 4/29). Points: Fairtrade – 3, SARCO – 0.
LONDON: Plugging the leaks in Crystal Palace’s porous defence will be the first priority for the south London club’s new manager Sam Allardyce as he looks ahead to a hectic Christmas period. Former England boss Allardyce replaced the sacked Alan Pardew on Friday with Palace just above the relegation zone with the third-worst defensive record in the Premier League. “We have a very important job of stopping the goals going in at the other end,” Allardyce, said in a video on Palace’s website (www. cpfc.co.uk). “Attacking players when you are in possession are fantastic this season. The strengthening in that area by the club and by Alan has brought a lot of flair to the team and I think that has brought quite a lot more goals. “But the other side is that when we are not in possession we have got to stop conceding and make sure that those goals we score win us games. It sounds simple but it’s not that easy.” Allardyce is seen as one of the best managers in English football when it comes to surviving a relegation scrap. The experienced 62-year-old was available to Palace after his short reign as England manager ended after just 67 days in September following comments he made in a newspaper sting about “getting around” FA rules
We are certainly trying to make the squad a bit bigger with more strength in depth. The players are good enough but if we can add to that let’s try Sam Allardyce Crystal Palace manager on player transfers. Allardyce is hoping to bolster the squad by signing some players in the January transfer window. “We are certainly trying to make the squad a bit bigger with more strength in depth,” he said. “The players here are good enough but if we can add to that let’s try and do it.” Palace have been in the top flight since 2013 but only one win in their last 11 league matches has seen them slide into danger near the foot of the table. They are fourth from bottom, one point above Allardyce’s former club Sunderland, ahead of Monday’s match at Watford. - Reuters