Abu Dhabi: India beat Oman by 21 runs after the ICC associate member nation put up a spirited show with the bat in the last group league fixture of the Asia Cup here on Friday.
Sanju Samson struck a 45-ball 56, and Abhishek Sharma provided the early momentum with a 15-ball 38 as India scored 188 for eight.
In reply, Oman gave a good account of themselves before ending at 167 for four in their allotted quota of 20 overs.
Winning the toss, India skipper Suryakumar Yadav opted to bat first on a surface that looked good for scoring, a decision that paid off. Despite a couple of early hiccups, the Indian batting lineup posted a competitive total of 188/8 in 20 overs.
Sanju Samson anchored the innings with a fluent 56-run knock, showcasing his timing and shot selection, while Abhishek Sharma provided the early impetus with a brisk 38. Cameos from the lower-middle order helped push India past the 180-run mark, despite tight spells from Oman’s bowlers in the death overs.
Oman put India under significant pressure with a spirited chase, staying well in the game until the final overs. Their disciplined batting and calculated aggression had the Indian camp visibly concerned, and the match came down to crucial moments where experience finally tilted the result in India’s favor.
With this victory, India has now won all of their group stage matches, entering the next phase of the tournament with confidence and momentum. The team has showcased both batting depth and bowling sharpness, key ingredients as they look ahead to tougher challenges in the Super Four.
