Key Points:
- India posted 188, powered by Abhishek Sharma’s explosive 38 and Sanju Samson’s steady 56.
- Oman fought hard with Aamir Kaleem’s 64 and Hammad Mirza’s 51 but were restricted to 167.
- With the win, India topped Group A and maintained their unbeaten record in the tournament.
ABU DHABI: India continued their unbeaten run in the Asia Cup 2025 with a 21-run victory over Oman on Friday, delivering a clinical all-round performance at the Abu Dhabi stadium.
After setting a challenging target of 188, the Indian bowlers held firm under pressure, restricting Oman to 167 in their full quota of 20 overs.
India’s innings got off to a flying start, thanks to a blistering 38 off 15 balls from Abhishek Sharma, who set the tone with aggressive stroke play. Sanju Samson played a stabilizing role with a composed 56 off 45 deliveries, while Axar Patel (26 off 13) and Tilak Varma (29 off 18) added crucial runs in the later stages.
For Oman, Shah Faisal (2/23) and Aamir Kaleem (2/31) were the pick of the bowlers, claiming key wickets to keep the scoring in check.
In response, Oman showed great fight, led by a solid 64 off 46 balls from Aamir Kaleem and an aggressive 51 off 33 from Hammad Mirza, keeping the chase alive well into the final overs. However, India’s bowling attack, with Kuldeep Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Arshdeep Singh, and Harshit Rana each taking a wicket, ensured that Oman fell short.
With this result, India tops Group A, while Oman, despite the loss, earned respect for their competitive spirit and resilience. The match delivered an entertaining contest filled with power hitting, strategic bowling, and tense moments, underlining the high stakes of the Asia Cup.
