Dubai, October 17, 2021 (PPI-OT):Zeeshan Maqsood sees plenty of room for improvement for Oman after a comprehensive 10-wicket win over Papua New Guinea in the opening game of the 2021 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
The tournament co-hosts grasped the early momentum in Group B with victory over debutants PNG, who are ranked three places higher in the MRF Tyres ICC Men’s T20I Team Rankings.
With the toughest test of their first-round campaign next up against Bangladesh, at Al Amerat on Tuesday, skipper Zeeshan knows exactly where his side need to step up.
“We have to look at our fielding, and minimise our mistakes, so we admit that and come back strong,” said the 33-year-old.
“We always use many bowling options, so that’s a good thing for us. Our catching is alright, but ground fielding has to be better due to nerves.
“We can’t take it easy and we need to correct our mistakes.”
Zeeshan, who shifted himself down to the middle order after taking over as captain in 2018, wasn’t required to bat as Oman chased down their target of 130 without losing a wicket.
Jatinder Singh was the chief aggressor in the run chase, clearing the ropes four times, ending unbeaten on 73 with Aqib Ilyas reaching his own half-century in the closing stages.
But Zeeshan was named Player of the Match on the strength of a crucial spell of left-arm spin, that started with him conceding 11 runs in his first over.
He took three wickets for one run in his second over, the 16th of the innings, with the first dismissal the pick of them, a beauty to clean bowl Norman Vanua.
“It was a crucial time for us, they were batting very well,” said Zeeshan.
“We got crucial wickets and didn’t allow them to put up a big total. I just tried to keep it tight, don’t bowl loose ones and bowl according to the field.
“The wicket was playing well, we just wanted to not give boundaries and loose balls, that run-out and then the wicket of Assad Vala was crucial for us to come back into the game.
“We know these conditions well, any score around 120, 140 can be chased well, the wicket was playing well, the ball was coming on nicely and the openers batted really well.
“I am really happy. Thanks to all our supporters and the family members.”
Meanwhile, PNG captain Assad Vala led by example with 56 from 43 balls but saw his side beaten heavily in their first-ever T20 World Cup match.
PNG lost wickets in clusters and Vala felt being reduced to 0/2 in the second over as crucial to the outcome of the game.
“It wasn’t a good start, and losing two wickets for no runs wasn’t great,” he said.
“We fought back really well and showed some character, but it was disappointing to collapse after and we couldn’t pick up wickets either, so they deserved the win.
“The middle order could have given us a good chance but we didn’t do well, and they picked up crucial wickets at the time.
“160 was par and it would have given us a chance to win. The way we bowled and fielded didn’t give us a chance.”
PNG face Scotland next, also on Tuesday, with Vala looking for an immediate response from within his group.
“Next two games, we just want to go back, talk about and reflect what we need to do,” he said.
“We just need to focus on ourselves and not worry about Scotland and Bangladesh at the moment, because it was down to us that we didn’t do well today because we didn’t execute our plans.
“We don’t want to think about them. We want to go back and reflect on what we need to do well and focus on ourselves at the moment.”
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