In the opening match of Group C of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup for Asia and EAP Qualifier 2025, held on October 8, 2025, at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground in Oman, Samoa batted first after Oman won the toss and elected to field.
Samoa struggled on a pitch with variable spin and bounce, slipping to 22/5 in eight overs before partially recovering to reach 92/9 in their 20 overs. Oman chased down the target of 93 with ease, reaching 96/5 in just 17 overs to secure a 5-wicket victory with 18 balls remaining.
This was Oman’s first win of the tournament, giving them 2 points, while Samoa opened the match with 0 points. Shah Faisal was named Man of the Match for his efficient run of 2/12. Key Performances
Samoa Batting
Top scorers Fereti Suluoto (22 runs in 16 balls, including a six) and Saumani Tiai (22 runs in 28 balls) offered some resistance in the middle order, but the top order crumbled early on.
Samoa lost their first five wickets for just 22 runs, with openers Sean Solia (2) and Darius Visser (1) falling easily.
Former New Zealand international Ross Taylor, making his T20I debut for Samoa at the age of 41, quickly scored 5 runs in 7 balls before being bowled out.
Highlights: Shah Faisal (4-1-12-2) and Mohammad Nadeem (3-0-15-2) led the attack, taking advantage of the seam and spin conditions to dismantle Samoa’s batting line-up. Aamir Kaleem (4-0-18-2) contributed two wickets during the recovery phase.
Chase Highlights: The innings was anchored by a consistent 21 from the not-out batsman (in 22 balls) and useful contributions from Aryan Bisht (18 off 28) and Aamir Kaleem (15 off 14). Oman lost the early momentum with Aamir Kaleem’s duck, but were never threatened.
Samoa’s bowling: Caleb Jasmat (4-0-13-2) was the pick, removing two middle-order batsmen, but the attack leaked 10 overs and struggled to penetrate.
Impact on the Tournament
This result has immediate implications for Group C, which consists of Oman, Samoa, and Papua New Guinea (PNG) in a round-robin format. With only three teams, each team plays each other once, with the top two advancing to the semifinals (and the top two advancing to the 2026 T20 World Cup).
Oman’s comfortable victory gives them a psychological and points advantage heading into their final group match against Papua New Guinea on October 10.
The first day of the tournament also saw wins for the United Arab Emirates (Group A) and Nepal (Group B), setting a competitive tone across all groups.
Reactions on social media highlighted Oman’s dominance, with fans emphasizing the resounding victory and Samoa’s resilience despite the defeat. One observer called it a “dominant display” by Oman, which bolstered home pride.
Implications for the teams
For Oman: The victory gives them momentum and confidence in their spin bowling attack, crucial at home. It positions them favorably for qualification: a win or even a strong performance against Papua New Guinea could secure their place in the semifinals. Key bowlers like Faisal and Nadeem are emerging as threats for the tournament, potentially attracting scouts for higher-level exposure.
For Samoa, the loss exposes the vulnerabilities of their frontline batting and powerplay execution, a recurring problem in the qualifiers. With a crucial clash against Papua New Guinea today (October 9, 3:00 p.m. local time), a loss here could eliminate them prematurely, harming the development of their partner nation. The middle-order appearances of Suluoto and Tiai show growth potential, and the debuts of players like Ili Tugaga bring experience.
As partner nations, both teams rely on these teams for funding and exposure. Oman’s success could boost investment in domestic cricket, while Samoa’s struggles could prompt an overhaul of their coaching staff to close the gap with stronger EAP teams like Papua New Guinea.
Oman’s victory underscores their growing prestige as a regular team in the qualifiers, taking advantage of home advantage and a balanced attack to overcome a Samoa side still establishing itself at the international level.
The match was a harsh lesson in T20 cricket: early wickets dictate the outcome, as Samoa’s collapse turned a defendable total into a cakewalk. Samoa showed tenacity in limiting Oman to five wickets, suggesting wasted bowling talent, but they must address their batting fragility to compete.
Overall, this first match sets up an intriguing finish in Pool C: Oman looks poised to advance, but Samoa’s response against Papua New Guinea could redefine their campaign. In associated cricket, the role of the qualifier in developing talent amid unequal resources stands out.
