Oman’s batters have not come up in colours yet: Ilyas

Oman’s T20 World Cup campaign is somewhat of a mixed bag. While they do have two losses next to their name, their performances have been such that they take a lot of heart out of it. 

In the clash against Namibia, their bowlers, specifically Mehran Khan, did a great job to pull things back in their favour before the encounter was decided in a super over, defending 109. 

Just a few days later, against Australia, their bowlers stepped up yet again, reducing Australia to 50/3 in the ninth over of the innings. While they ended up conceding 164 in that clash, their bowlers have always left a mark in these games. Meanwhile, their batting unit has faltered time and again, evident from the scores of 109 and 125. 

Ahead of a must-win clash against Scotland, skipper Aqib Ilyas pointed out that their batters haven’t yet come to the party. 

“The thing is, they (batters) have to perform. Our bowlers, credit goes to them, they did really well restricting top teams like Australia and then Namibia also we try to defend them - but the thing is, our batters they are not coming up in colours yet. Maybe something - our management they had a chat with them, especially me also I had a chat with my team that these strikes are not much bigger, you don't expect of high runs over here,” Ilyas said ahead of their clash. 

“You play according to the situation and assess the conditions and you keep in mind that what the target should be. You see teams are winning with 140 -150 runs - teams are winning. So, for that you have to stay at the wicket, someone from the top order has to stay and at the last over we have good power hitters in the squad who can change the game within one or two hours so for them to come in and show their class and everything you have to stay at the wicket - so hopefully we'll see how it works in the upcoming game,” he added. 

Thus far in the competition, Ayan Khan has emerged as one of the shining lights for the Middle East side, with 51 runs across the two games. Barring Mehran, who has a strike rate of 141.7, scoring 34 runs, all the other Oman batters have faltered under pressure, with way below-average strike rates in the competition. 

Ilyas, who holds his batting on a very high pedestal, has failed severely, with just 18 runs in the competition, across 19 balls, with two dismissals. Ahead of the fixture, he hoped for the batting to take a new corner.

“Our team, I'm very satisfied with my bowling and fielding side. but with the batting side I'm much concerned, especially my batting, because in the past I've done really well. I was among the top batters in the Associate. There are days you don't do well, but I should do well and I expect more on myself to perform big at this bigger stage against the top sides," he talked about his own batting.

"And once I and my team, they perform, hopefully we have some top batters, which you surely will look when once they're in the colour, you will see that these are among the top players they have some quality shots which are like you don't see much so hopefully I think that by tomorrow's game you will see us giving our best as a whole unit,” he said. 

After two strong showings in Barbados, Oman will have to readjust quickly as their caravan moves to Antigua. While Barbados presented a different challenge, the clash here in Antigua might very well pose a unique challenge - the wind. 

Unlike Barbados, winds have played a huge role here in Antigua, and it will make the bowlers’ and batters’ jobs tough if they have to hit against it to the longer side of the ropes. Ilyas, however, was quick in reading the conditions, stating that the wicket might not be quick, and will be on the slower surface, much more than what it was in Barbados. 

“The wicket, I feel, wouldn't be very quick. The ball won't come up very easily it would be a slow wicket as compared to what was there in Barbados. But the thing is you know there are many different factors in which Barbados the stadium was closed - wind factor was not there,” he said. 

“Over here the boundaries are bigger boundaries, maybe yesterday what we practiced was a 70 plus meter boundary so it's not easy to clear those boundaries when the wind is blowing, so we have to decide on from which area which end you have to bring your best bowler, which area you have to charge as a batter which bowler you have to look on to with the wind,” he concluded.

If you’ve not downloaded the Cricket.com app yet, you’re missing out — big time. Play Fantasy on Cricket.com NOW! Download the App here.