Kerala begins Oman tour with thrilling four-wicket victory

Kerala’s senior men’s team kicked off their Oman tour in style, registering a thrilling four-wicket win over Oman Chairman’s XI in the opening match. Chasing a mammoth target of 327, Kerala sealed the victory with five balls to spare, by the brilliant performances from Rohan Kunnummal, Salman Nizar, and Shaun Roger, as stated in a release from the Kerala Cricket Association.

Batting first, Oman Chairman’s XI posted an imposing total of 326 in their 50 overs. Openers Jatinder Singh and Aamir Kaleem gave the hosts a blazing start with a formidable 137-run partnership. Jatinder played a commanding knock, scoring 150 off 136 deliveries, while Aamir contributed a solid 73 off 68 balls.

Despite the early onslaught, Kerala’s bowlers made a strong comeback following Aamir’s dismissal. MD Nidheesh and Eden Apple Tom led the fightback, picking up four wickets each to restrict the scoring and prevent Oman from posting an even larger total.

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In response, Kerala began steadily with openers Rohan Kunnummal and Ahmad Imran providing a confident start. Although both Ahmad Imran and Mohammed Azharuddeen fell in quick succession in the same over, Rohan and Salman Nizar stabilised the innings with a crucial 146-run stand for the third wicket.

Rohan led the chase with a composed century, scoring 122 off 109 balls, including 12 fours and four sixes. Salman Nizar played a vital supporting role, contributing 87 runs. Following the opener’s departure, Shaun Roger kept the momentum going with a fluent 56 off 48 balls.

Despite a few stumbles towards the end, Akshay Manohar and Sharafuddeen held their nerve and guided Kerala to a memorable win. For the hosts, Hussain Ali Shah was the pick of the bowlers, picking up four wickets.

Kerala will face their next challenge in the tour on April 23.

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