Zimbabwe pace battery blows up Oman

 Zimbabwe fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani (left) stood out from the rest

By M. Shamil Amit

Zimbabwe’s pace trio of Blessing Muzarabani, Brad Evans and Richard Ngarawa combined to account for nine wickets that laid the foundation for them to record a convincing eight wicket win over a hapless Oman in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup played at the SSC ground yesterday.

Zimbabwe chasing 104 runs was given a start of 30 by openers Brian Bennett and Tadiwanashe Marumani before both were out in the fourth over.

But that was all that the Oman bowlers were able to muster as Bennett who top scored with an unbeaten 48 and Brendan Taylor who was forced to retire hurt put on an unbroken  68 runs for the third to help Zimbabwe race to the target with ease in 13.3 overs to start their campaign on a winning note.

Earlier Zimbabwe skipper Sikander Raza winning the toss and inviting Oman to take first lease of the wicket had the Oman top order batting in tatters struggling on 27 for 5 in the seventh over.

Oman’s sixth pair of Sufyan Mehmood and Vinayak Shukla put in some resistance to rescue the side but they were unable to make much headway and having added 42 runs their stand collapsed with the dismissal of Shukla with Oman’s score on 69 for 6 in the 15th over.

Oman lost another quick wicket for the addition of two runs followed by the dismissal of Mehmood.

Oman slumped to 76 for 8 in the 17th over and did not last long being bowled out for 103 in the penultimate ball of the last over.

Scores:
Oman 104 in 19.5 overs (Vinayak Shukla 28, Sufyan Mehmood 25: Blessing Muzarabani 3/16, Brad Evans 3/17, Richard Ngarawa 3/28)

Zimbabwe 106 for 2 in 13.3 overs (Tadiwanashe Marumani 21, Brian Bennett 48 n.o., Brendon Taylor 31rtd: Sufyan Mehmood 2/12)