UAE Crush Oman by 25 Runs in ICC CWC League 2 as Waseem's Direct Hit Seals Thumping Win

Key facts

• UAE scored 268/7 in 39.5 overs, with Vinayak Shukla top-scoring at 58 off 58 balls.
• Oman were bowled out for 243 in 47.5 overs, with Ajay Kumar taking three wickets in the 47th over.
• Muhammad Waseem ran out an Omani batter with a direct hit from mid-off to seal the win.
• The match was the 99th of the ICC Cricket World Cup League Two 2023-27.
• Umpires were Durga Subedi (Nepal) and Raveendra Wimalasiri (Sri Lanka); match referee was Wendell Labrooy (Sri Lanka).
• Oman's innings featured a 267-run partnership for the third wicket between Harpreet Singh and Muhammad Waseem.
• UAE's chase saw early wickets at 1-1 and 2-10 before a recovery led by Aryan Bisht and Hammad Mirza.

Lede: UAE Clinch First Points with Dominant Display

The United Arab Emirates registered a comprehensive 25-run victory over Oman in the 99th match of the ICC Cricket World Cup League Two 2023-27 at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur on September 15, 2025. The win, secured with a brilliant direct hit from captain Muhammad Waseem, gave the hosts their first points of the tournament and outclassed Oman in all departments of the game. Waseem charged in from mid-off and hit the bull's eye at the non-striker's end, catching a batter well short of his ground. The umpire's finger went up immediately, and the crowd erupted as UAE sealed a thumping victory.

The Chase: UAE Recover from Early Collapse to Post 268

Batting first, UAE's innings got off to a disastrous start. Ashish Odedara fell for 1 in the first over, and Jatinder Singh followed soon after for 10, leaving the team reeling at 2-10 in the 2.2 overs. Pruthvikumar Machhi added 26 before being dismissed in the 4.5 over, and the scoreboard read 4-88 when Aryan Bisht departed for 88 off 16.4 overs. A recovery was mounted by Hammad Mirza, who scored 175 off 27.3 overs, and Vinayak Shukla, who remained unbeaten on 58 off 58 balls. Shukla's knock, laced with boundaries, propelled UAE to 268/7 in their allotted 39.5 overs. The lower order chipped in with useful contributions, including 202 from Wasim Ali and 239 from Shakeel Ahmed.

Oman's Response: A Lone Stand Falls Short

Oman's reply began steadily, with Aryansh Sharma and Adeeb Usmani putting on 111 runs for the first wicket. Sharma made 111 off 20.3 overs before being dismissed, and Usmani added 144 off 26.2 overs. The third-wicket partnership between Harpreet Singh and Muhammad Waseem was the highlight of the innings, adding 267 runs in 43.4 overs. However, once that stand was broken, Oman's batting collapsed. From 3-267, they lost seven wickets for just 24 runs, slipping to 10-243 in 47.5 overs. Ajay Kumar was the wrecker-in-chief, taking three wickets in the 47th over alone: Hassnain Shah bowled, Siddharth Bukkapatnam caught by Waseem, and Shah Faisal bowled. Kumar finished with figures of 3 for 24.

Key Performers: Shukla, Kumar, and Waseem Shine

Vinayak Shukla's unbeaten 58 off 58 balls was the backbone of UAE's innings, providing stability after the early wickets. Ajay Kumar's three-wicket burst in the 47th over effectively ended Oman's resistance, while captain Muhammad Waseem's direct hit from mid-off was the defining moment of the match. For Oman, Harpreet Singh's 267 off 43.4 overs and Muhammad Waseem's 276 off 44.2 overs were valiant efforts, but they lacked support from the lower order. The team's inability to build partnerships after the third wicket proved costly.

Match Context and Stakes

This match was the 99th of the ICC Cricket World Cup League Two 2023-27, a tournament that serves as a pathway to the 2027 Cricket World Cup. The victory gave UAE their first points of the competition, boosting their chances of qualification. Oman, meanwhile, will rue a missed opportunity after a strong start with the bat. The match was officiated by umpires Durga Subedi of Nepal and Raveendra Wimalasiri of Sri Lanka, with Wendell Labrooy of Sri Lanka serving as match referee. The venue, Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur, provided a lively pitch that offered something for both batsmen and bowlers.

Outlook: What This Means for Both Teams

UAE's comprehensive win will give them confidence as they look to build momentum in the league. The team's ability to recover from a top-order collapse and then defend a modest total shows their depth and resilience. For Oman, the defeat exposes a fragility in their batting lineup, which crumbled under pressure after a strong start. Both teams will need to address their weaknesses as the tournament progresses. UAE will aim to replicate their all-round performance, while Oman must find ways to convert strong starts into match-winning totals. The race for World Cup qualification remains wide open, and every point is crucial.

The bottom line

• UAE defeated Oman by 25 runs in the ICC CWC League Two 2023-27, their first points of the tournament.
• Vinayak Shukla's unbeaten 58 off 58 balls anchored UAE's innings after an early collapse.
• Ajay Kumar took three wickets in the 47th over to dismantle Oman's lower order.
• Muhammad Waseem's direct hit from mid-off sealed the win, running out an Omani batter.
• Oman's batting collapsed after a 267-run third-wicket partnership, losing seven wickets for 24 runs.
• The match was played at Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur, on September 15, 2025.