India registers easy win over Oman, sets date for Afghanistan semi-finals

Lucknow Super Giants youngster Ayush Badoni showcased his brilliant strokeplay to seal a six-wicket win over Oman to set up a semi-final date with Afghanistan A in the ACC Emerging Asia Cup in Al Amerat on Wednesday. Badoni scored 51 runs in 27 balls, helping India A achieve the target of 141 runs in just 15.2 overs and end their contest in the Group B league with a winning record. The talented Delhi right-handed batsman's footwork against the spinners was impressive as he danced down the track to hit a spinner for a six over extra cover besides executing the reverse slog sweep with perfection.

He also gave a back-cut to one of the Omani pacers behind square. Overall, he hit six fours and two sixes and was out when India was just a few runs short of the winning target.

The senior T20 team's opener Abhishek Sharma scored 34 runs in just 15 balls to lead the chase, while captain Tilak Verma (36 not out from 30 balls) anchored one end, giving Badoni the limelight.

Earlier, Verma had used eight bowlers against the senior Oman team, five of whom got one wicket each.

The key ones were left-arm spinner R Sai Kishore (1/21 in 4 overs) and leg spinner Rahul Chahar (0/20 in 4 overs) who gave away a total of only 41 runs in their eight overs during the middle phase.