Mohammad Haris’s brisk 66 and a dominant display by Pakistan’s spinners secured a 93-run victory over Oman in their opening Asia Cup match at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Friday.
Chasing 161, Oman collapsed for 67 in 16.4 overs, their second-lowest total in T20 internationals, behind the 47 all out against England in the 2024 T20 World Cup.
Hammad Mirza top-scored with 27, but the rest of the batting offered little resistance.
Sufiyan Muqeem (2-7), Faheem Ashraf (2-6) and Saim Ayub (2-8) shared six wickets, while Abrar Ahmed and Shaheen Shah Afridi chipped in with a wicket each. Afridi also effected a direct-hit run-out.
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Batting first, Pakistan posted 160-7 in their 20 overs, thanks to Haris’ 66 off 43 balls with seven fours and three sixes. Sahibzada Farhan chipped in with 29.
Oman’s Aamir Kaleem claimed 3-31 and Shah Faisal picked up 3-34 to check Pakistan’s scoring.
The Greenshirts will now play India on Sunday. This would be the first time the two arch-rivals come face to face since the military conflict in May.