Oman finish with perfect record as Denmark secure first win
- Oman cruise to a ten-wicket win over Uganda to end with five wins from five in the ICC World Cricket League Division 3
- The hosts therefore finish top of the group and make an instant return to Division 2
- Denmark end on a high with an impressive nine-wicket victory over Kenya
- Singapore and USA do battle for the second promotion spot in the final game on Monday
Hosts Oman had already secured promotion back to Division 2 at the first time of asking but a simple ten-wicket victory over Uganda sealed top spot.
Denmark secured a first win at the fifth time of asking thanks to a brilliant partnership between Hamid Shah (105 not out) and Freddie Klokker (80 not out), which inspired their nine-wicket triumph over Kenya.
Singapore and USA will do battle for the second promotion place when they face off in the final game on Monday – with the USA in the driving seat as they currently have two more points and a much-superior net run-rate than their opponents.
Kenya v Denmark
Denmark won the toss and elected to field at Oman Club Turf 1 but that looked like a questionable decision as Kenya raced to 183/3 with ten overs still remaining, thanks largely to Alex Obanda (59) and Irfan Karim keeping the scoreboard ticking over.
However, Jonas Henriksen removed Sachin Bhudia for 33 before 20-year-old right-arm off-break bowler Saif Ahmad (4/37) took over – having Nelson Odhiambo and Rakep Patel caught behind off consecutive balls before finally ending key man Karim’s 99-ball vigil on 64.
Kenya was eventually all out for 216 with six balls remaining but Denmark’s response got off to a worrying start when Lucas Oluoch had Taranjit Bharaj caught by Bhudia for just nine.
But that brought Freddie Klokker (80 not out) to the crease and his magical unbeaten partnership of almost 200 with skipper Hamid Shah (105 not out) comfortably saw the Danes home by nine wickets, as they recorded their first win of the competition.
Uganda v Oman
Uganda won the toss and chose to bat at Oman Club Turf 2. Bilal Khan (4/12) and Fayyaz Butt (5/22) tore through the Ugandan batting order, with only Dinesh Nakrani (12) and Deusdedit Muhumuza (18 not out) reaching double figures.
After being reduced to 9/4, Uganda recovered slightly to reach 51/5 before Butt took four of the final five wickets as they could only post 59 all out from 28.3 overs.
It never looked in doubt that table-toppers Oman would comfortably chase the total down and that’s exactly what they did as openers Jatinder Singh (36 not out) and Twinkal Bhandari (22 not out) calmly steered the hosts to a ten-wicket victory from just 17.2 overs to complete their perfect campaign.
Scores in brief
Denmark won by nine wickets at Oman Club Turf 1
Kenya 216 all out, 49 overs (Irfan Karim 64, Alex Obanda 59; Saif Ahmad 4/37, Jonas Henriksen 3/46)
Denmark 218/1, 45.3 overs (Hamid Shah 105 not out, Freddie Klokker 80 not out; Lucas Oluoch 1/29)
Oman won by ten wickets at Oman Club Turf 2
Uganda 59 all out, 28.3 overs (Deusdedit Muhumuza 18 not out; Fayyaz Butt 5/22, Bilal Khan 4/12)
Oman 63/0, 17.2 overs (Jatinder Singh 36 not out, Twinkal Bhandari 22 not out; Henry Ssenyondo 0/11)
Upcoming matches:
19 November: Singapore v USA (Oman Club Turf 1)
All matches start at 9.30am local time.