UAE-Oman match abandoned after overnight downpour

Dubai - Oman, Afghanistan and Kenya are on seven points but the Sultanate side lead the Group B standings by virtue of a better average.

Oman's campaign has become the story of the International Cricket Council World Twenty20 Qualifier-2015 tournament.
For three consecutive days they have been on a trail seldom witnessed in this event, which to date has been dominated by Ireland and Afghanistan for the past three editions. Oman's penultimate Group B match against the UAE on Friday was abandoned without a ball being bowled following heavy overnight downpour which rendered the ground unplayable.
Oman, Afghanistan and Kenya are on seven points but the Sultanate side lead the Group B standings by virtue of a better average thus leaving the Scotland-Oman fixture on Saturday (today) as a virtual passage into the next phase for the winner. The Scots who slipped after their impressive thrashing of the UAE in the tournament's opening clash, have clawed their way back to fourth place with six points.
Also on Saturday in the same group, the Afghans have a date with the Canadians though it would be premature to take things for granted going by this week's upsets in the 14-team championships from where the top six sides will make it to the T20 World Cup in India.
The Netherlands have a chance if they manage to win their two final games and can turn the tide against Kenya in another crunch game in Group B on Saturday.
Oman lost to Kenya in its opening match by just seven runs, but after that, there were wins against Canada, the Netherlands and Afghanistan. Oman have six points from four matches and a win will catapult them to the top in the group.
The UAE will return home after finishing with just three points with the win against Canada being their only success in six matches. Given that the side has had the success of qualifying for the 2014 T20 and the 2015 ICC World Cup, the final outcome of the Emirates lads is disappointing.
In Group A matches on Friday, Papua New Guinea (PNG) kept their giant killing form intact with Nepal coming at the receiving end this time. The islanders after their stunning win over Ireland earlier this week, beat the Himalayan lads by eight wickets. "We're a team that is very family orientated. We love cracking jokes, smiling and singing. We want to continue in this tournament. I thought the wicket would play similar to the Ireland match, but it played differently," PNG skipper Jack Vare told media.
"The game went our way when we changed our plans. It was a sticky wicket, so 120 would have been a good total. Credit to my boys for backing themselves. We will take to win every game as it comes. There were some positives, but also some things we can improve."
In another Group A morning game on Friday, Namibia beat Jersey by nine wickets.

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3

it was a sticky wicket, so 120 would have been a good total. - Jack Vare

fixtures (UAE Time)
> Saturday
Nepal v Jersey (1pm)
Scotland v Oman (1pm)
Afghanistan v Canada (1pm)
PNG v Namibia (5.25pm)
Hong Kong v USA (5.25pm)
Netherlands v Kenya (5.25pm)

standings
> Group A
Teams M W L T N/R P
PNG 4 3 0 0 1 7
Ire 4 3 1 0 0 6
Nam 4 2 1 0 1 5
HK 3 1 1 0 1 3
Nepal 5 1 3 0 1 3
Jer 4 1 3 0 0 2
USA 4 1 3 0 0 2
> Group B
Teams M W L T N/R P
Oman 5 3 1 0 1 7
Afg 5 3 1 0 1 7
Kenya 5 3 1 0 1 7
Scot 5 3 2 0 0 6
Neth 4 2 2 0 0 4
UAE 6 1 4 0 1 3
Can 4 0 4 0 0 0

• Oman