Fast bowler Arshdeep Singh has become the first India bowler to take 100 wickets in T20 internationals in their Asia Cup win over Oman
Arshdeep Singh has become the first India bowler to take 100 T20 international wickets as Asia Cup newcomers Oman were beaten by 21 runs.
The fast bowler’s only wicket on Friday was picked up in the last over to restrict Oman, playing India for the first time in any format of cricket, to a respectable 4-167 as they chased 189.
India, experimenting with their battling order ahead of their first Super Four game against Pakistan on Sunday, had earlier made 8-188 with captain Suryakumar Yadav even demoting himself to No.11.
Instead, Sanju Samson led the way with 56 off 45 balls while Abhishek Sharma hit a typically flamboyant 38 off 15.
India and Sri Lanka were left unbeaten in the group stages with three wins each, with Pakistan and Bangladesh the others to qualify for the Super Four stage.
In the absence of rested fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah and new world No.1-ranked T20 bowler Varun Chakravarthy, it still felt a little surprising that the India bowlers struggled to dismiss Oman.
Suryakumar tried eight bowlers but only Hardik Pandya (1-26) and Arshdeep bowled out their full quota of four overs.
Amir Kaleem top-scored for Oman with 64, with support from Hammad Mirza (51) and captain Jitender Singh (32).
Abhishek, dropped on 21, then gave India brisk start with two sixes and five boundaries.
Samson was slow to begin with and brought up his half-century in the death overs before holing out at deep mid-wicket. India scored only 21 off the final three overs that featured just one boundary.
Fast bowler Faisal Shah (2-23) led Oman, while Jiten Ramanandi and Aamir Kaleem also picked up two wickets each.
