MUSCAT, Oct 17, 2021 BSS/AFP) - Oman skipper Zeeshan Maqsood picked up 4-20
to help restrict debutants Papua New Guinea to 129 for nine in the Twenty20
World Cup opener on Sunday.

   Oman pace bowlers struck early to reduce the opposition to 0-2 after the
hosts elected to bowl first in the first round match at the Al Amerat ground
outside Muscat.

   PNG captain Assad Vala, who made 56 off 43 balls, and Charles Amini, who
smashed 37, hit back with an attacking third-wicket partnership of 81.

   But Mohammad Nadeem ran out the left-handed Amini with a direct throw at
the non-striker's end to break the stand and that opened the door for Maqsood
with his left-arm spin.

   Maqsood sent back Norman Vanua, Sese Bau and Kiplin Doriga in the space of
five deliveries and later took one more as Papua New Guinea collapsed from
102-3.

   New-ball bowlers Bilal Khan and Kaleemullah, who goes by just one name,
took two wickets each. Oman need 130 to win.