Oman secured a very impressive five-wicket victory over Ireland in the ICC ODI World Cup Qualifiers 2023 in Zimbabwe and one of the heroes in their batting was Aqib Ilyas.
With a target of 282 set by Oman for the win, the plaudits definitely go to skipper Zeeshan Maqsood for his 59-run knock, but Ilyas played a crucial knock of 52 off 49 balls with eight fours to his name. The duo combined as Oman chased down the target to defeat favourites Ireland at the Bulawayo Athletic Club on Monday. June 20.
And the batter recalled his struggle with bone cancer, which kept him out of the sport for 15 months. "It is a part of life. I was giving top performances and my average was 58. I was also doing well with the ball, but suddenly I got to know that I had a bone issue and I was out of cricket for 15 months," Ilyas said after the match.
"When I came to the field, I mids-fielded once or twice, but a blush came on my face thinking that 'You are enjoying the moment when there was a time you were out of this beautiful game and now you are back with a bang and performing'. When I was out, I realised that this game is a blessing for me," he stated.
Ilyas is one of the better batters for Oman in ODI cricket. The right-hander has scored 864 runs from 19 matches at an average of 57.60 and a strike rate of 81.74 with two hundred and six fifties.
Ilyas was also proud of his team after Oman were secured a first-ever ODI victory over a Test-playing nation in Ireland in their very first match of the World Cup Qualifiers.
"It is the best feeling playing the first game against a Test-playing nation and winning convincingly. It is a morale-booster for us getting into the tournament and beating the best team," Ilyas added.
Oman will next face the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in their second Group B match on Wednesday, January 21.
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