Image credit: Peter Della Penna/ESPNcricinfo
Scotland go into Sunday’s final T20I of their trip to Oman against the hosts (9.45am GMT) on a high having played very well on Friday to defeat Ireland and bounce back from the loss against the Netherlands.
The home side have lost their opening two games in this Quadrangular Series, but will be eager to get a positive result for their own fans and can certainly be a tough side to play in the Al Amarat Stadium.
After this match the two sides meet again in three 50-over matches at the same venue on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.
Ahead of the four matches here are five things you might like to know…
Scotland won the only ever T20 meeting between the sides to date
Back in January 2017 at the Desert T20 Challenge in Dubai, Scotland and Oman met for the only time. Oman batted first and made their way up to 133 all out with Khurram Nawaz top scoring with 23 and AV Lalcheta making 20, but neither could edge on towards a half century and Scotland’s bowlers did well. Safyaan Sharif led the way with 3-33 and then, in reply, 47 from Matthew Cross and 35 not out from Calum MacLeod made sure the Scots got home by seven wickets.
Oman’s famous T20 win over Ireland
World Twenty20 newcomers Oman stunned Ireland with a two wicket victory with two balls to spare in their first gamein Dharamsala in 2016. Chasing 155, Oman openers Zeeshan Maqsood and Khawar Ali added 69 and, after a collapse, Aamer Ali hit 32 from 17 balls. With 14 needed from the final over, Max Sorensen bowled two no balls, one of which went for four and another which went for four byes to end the match.
Oman in T20 cricket since then
They have not played a lot of the shortest format of the game and did not have any fixtures in 2018. However, back in 2017 they did beat Hong Kong by seven wickets in Abu Dhabi. That was just a few days before they played Scotland and in that one the Oman bowlers were on great form first up to skittle Hong Kong out for 87. Bilal Khan was the main man with 3-18 while with the bat Aqib Ilyas made 56 not out. They got T20I status in April 2018 along with other ICC members.
Oman bowlers to watch out for on Sunday
Scotland will not be taking the match lightly at all and they know that Oman have some decent bowlers. Fayyaz Butt took 2-19 against Ireland on Wednesday and then was unlucky to be wicketless against the Netherlands on Friday. The 25-year-old seamer will be joined in the attack by 30-year-old opening bowler Bilal Khan who has taken 21 wickets in 18 top level matches in this format with a best of 4-20.
Oman batsmen to watch out for on Sunday
Jatinder Singh played a cracking innings of 63 off 51 balls against the Netherlands on Friday and the experienced opener is always a dangerman. Khurram Nawaz hit six fours and three sixes in that one on his way to making a well compiled 58 and he can certainly hit the ball if given a chance. Wicketkeeper Nadeem Khushi is 36 and has bags of experience, he hit 28 not out off just 11 balls on Friday and is a good middle order batsman.
Scotland take on Oman in the last game of the quadrangular series on Sunday 17th February at 09:45am (GMT).
You can follow the match build-up via our Twitter.
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Written by Gary Heatly.
