OMAN VS PNG - 1st Match, Group B, ICC Mens T20 World Cup 2021

A bit of a dud to kick off the T20 World Cup, five years on from the last, but a ray of sunshine in the form of a dominating performance from an associate nation. A terrific chase to close things out from Oman, and a spectacle for the home crowd. Now then, the same venue hosts another game tonight between Bangladesh and Scotland. Spare a thought for poor old Shakib, who may have to play a World Cup game less than 48 hours after coming second in the IPL final. That's it from us though. You can switch tabs and follow the other game. Cheerio!

Assad Vala | PNG captain: It wasn't a good start, and losing two wickets for no runs wasn't great. It was disappointing to collapse after the partnership and we couldn't pick up wickets either, so they deserved the win. 160 was par and it would have given us a chance to win. The middle order could have given us a good chance but we didn't do well, and they picked up crucial wickets at the time.

Zeeshan Maqsood | Player of the Match | Oman captain: I am very happy, it was a crucial time for us, they were batting very well. We got crucial wickets and didn't allow them to put up a big total. I just try and keep it tight, don't bowl loose ones and bowl according to the field. The wicket was playing well, we just wanted to not give boundaries and loose balls, that run-out and then the wicket of Assad Vala was crucial for us to come back into the game. We know these conditions well, any score around 120-140 can be chased well, the wicket was playing well, the ball was coming on nicely and the openers batted really well. Thanks to all our supporters and the family members. We have to look at our fielding, and minimize our mistakes, so we admit that and come back strong. We always use many bowling options, so that's a good thing for us. Our catching is alright, but ground fielding has to be better due to nerves. We can't take it easy and correct our mistakes.

16:58 Local Time, 12:58 GMT, 18:28 IST: Could it get any more commanding than this? Oman were right on the money, picking up two early wickets, before the only sign of heart shown by PNG today - a couple of good partnerships to recover. It was all downhill from there, however, as they collapsed to 129-9, before the Omani openers tamed the hapless PNG bowlers, hurrying to a win in 82 balls without losing a wicket. They were aided by the odd dropped catch, countless extras, and one juicy combination of the two, but they couldn't buy a wicket today. A disheartening day for PNG, and an ecstatic one for Oman in front of their home crowd. Presentations coming up in a moment...

Varun: Big cricketing nations should send their A or B teams for series with Associate teams. Franchises of T20 leagues should be asked to have one player from as associate nations in XI mandatory. Big nations should adopt some teams for developing them.

Charles Amini to Jatinder Singh, SIX, that's the end of that! Hammers a drag-down with a powerful pull over deep mid-wicket to seal a ten-wicket win to get on the board in the ICC T20 World Cup 2021!

Charles Amini to Aqib Ilyas, 1 run, reaches out and drives it down to long-off for one to bring up a third T20I fifty for Aqib Ilyas! Raises his bat to the dressing room, pumped...

Charles Amini to Jatinder Singh, 1 run, backs away and slaps this down to deep point for one

Charles Amini to Aqib Ilyas, 1 run, hurries into the thigh, and that's whipped down to long-on for one

Charles Amini [2.0-0-22-0] is back into the attack

Lega Siaka to Jatinder Singh, no run, zips through once again outside off, Jatinder Singh chops it off the under-edge towards cover

Lega Siaka to Aqib Ilyas, 1 run, slides through towards leg, Aqib Ilyas stays low and swats this wristily to short fine leg for one

Lega Siaka to Jatinder Singh, 1 run, loopy one, Jatinder Singh reaches out and drives it down to long-off for a single

Lega Siaka to Aqib Ilyas, 1 run, stays back and slaps a wide overspinner square of the wicket for one

Lega Siaka to Aqib Ilyas, wide, far too wide outside off

Lega Siaka to Jatinder Singh, 1 run, stays low and slaps a skidder away in front of point for one

Lega Siaka to Jatinder Singh, FOUR, another rank half-tracker and that's pulled away in front of deep square leg for four

Damien Ravu to Aqib Ilyas, 2 runs, full and wide, Jatinder Singh throws his hands and flays it away over backward point for a couple. A throw at the striker's end, and he's whipped off the bails, but the batsman is back in. In fact it's been sent to the third umpire to make sure the bat is grounded when the bails are whipped off. It was a close call, but it's grounded...

Damien Ravu to Jatinder Singh, 1 run, free-hit, full one at the tramline, Jatinder Singh reaches out and squeezes it out in front of deep point to sweeper cover for a single

Damien Ravu to Jatinder Singh, wide, short, too short, and this time it's a wide for height - Jatinder Singh misses out on the hook. Another free-hit coming.

Damien Ravu to Jatinder Singh, no ball, another one, oversteps this time, and that's a full one driven to mid-off