India Secures Semifinal Spot in Rising Stars Asia Cup with Win Over Oman
Doha: India has secured its place in the semifinals of the Rising Stars Asia Cup following a decisive six-wicket victory over Oman on Tuesday, November 18. The team rebounded effectively after a previous defeat to Pakistan, ensuring they remain in contention for a final showdown, potentially against the same opponent.
Facing a must-win situation, India A showcased a disciplined bowling performance, limiting Oman A to 135 for seven in their 20 overs. Suyash Sharma’s economical spell, which yielded 2 wickets for just 12 runs in four overs, was notable. Gurjapneet Singh also contributed with two wickets, while Oman A’s innings was anchored by Wasim Ali, who remained unbeaten on 54 runs.
India A’s batting lineup struggled initially, with Vaibhav Suryavanshi being dropped on four runs but managing to score only 12 off 13 balls. Priyansh Arya followed suit, departing for just 10 runs. Naman Dhir, however, injected momentum into the innings with a quick 30 off 19 balls before falling, helping keep India A ahead of the required run rate.
The highlight of the innings was Harsh Dubey, who was elevated to number four in the batting order. He took full advantage of this opportunity, scoring an unbeaten 53 runs from 44 balls—his first half-century in T20 cricket. Nehal Wadhera provided solid support with 23 runs off 24 balls, forming a partnership that guided India A past the target in 17.5 overs.
Dubey’s performance not only anchored the batting effort but also underscored the depth and adaptability of the squad as they move further into the tournament.
With this victory, India A finished second in their group and will face the Group A winner in the first semifinal on Friday. Pakistan A, having already qualified, will play in the other semifinal later that day. Should both teams advance, they would meet in a highly anticipated final on November 23.
