Match: Hong Kong v Oman
Date: 16 January, Monday
Time: 6pm SGT/3:30pm IST/10am GMT
Competition: Desert T20
Venue: Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
TV Channel: There is no live TV coverage available in Singapore.
Live updates can be found of tournament's official Twitter handle, UAE Cricket handle
Overview
Hong Kong did not have a solid start to their campaign in the inaugural edition of the eight-team cricket tournament, Desert Twenty20, which is also dubbed as the mini World Cup for associate nations.
The 15th-ranked team lost to Scotland by 24 runs on Saturday in their opening Group B clash at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium. Higher-ranked Kyle Coetzer's team posted 189 on the board after winning the toss. Calum MacLeod and Richie Berrington struck quickfire half-centuries after the top-order got them off to a consistent start.
A valiant effort from all-rounder Ehsan Khan (22-ball 42), who also starred with the ball (2/26), was not enough for the Hong Kong side as they ended up with only 165 at the end of 20 overs.
However, Babar Hayat's team are favourites to win their second group match against Oman, who are the lowest-ranked side in Group B, which also has Netherlands. The skipper himself will look to buckle up and the team will be well served if their star batsman Nizakat Khan gets a big one at the top of the order.
Oman, on the other hand, also lost their opening clash against the Netherlands on Sunday by five wickets in Abu Dhabi. Recently-naturalised Arun Poulose led-batting unit never got the better of the opposition's bowling unit as it was able to post only 146, which was gunned down by Peter Borren's men with five wickets to spare.
The Omanese side will look to make use of the World Cricket League experience and make an impact in the ongoing tournament. However, with only two games left in the group stages for the minnows, Duleep Mendis-coached team has to buckle up and make an immediate impact. A win against Hong Kong will be handy before they face another stiff test against group heavyweights Scotland.
Team News
Hong Kong
Possible XI: Babar Hayat (c), Nizakat Khan, Aizaz Khan, Anshuman Rath, Waqas Khan, Shahid Wasif (wk), Ehsan Khan, Waqas Barkat, Ehsan Nawaz, Nadeem Ahmed, Tanveer Ahmed
Oman
Possible XI: Sultan Ahmed (c & wk), Arun Poulose, Zeeshan Maqsood, Aqib Ilyas, Khawar Ali, Ajay Lalcheta, Khurram Nawaz, Naseem Khushi, Bilal Khan, Kaleemullah, Mohammad Nadeem
