United Arab Emirates and Oman boosted their hopes of qualifying for the Asia Cup with victories over Afghanistan and Hong Kong today.
Each team plays each other once as they attempt to join India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in the tournament proper which starts on Wednesday.
Oman edged out Hong Kong by five runs, despite a brutal century from Babar Hayat, in a controversial match where Mark Chapman was the victim of a Mankad.
Chasing 181 to win, Hong Kong were reduced to 77 for three in the ninth over when Aamir Kaleem whipped off the bails after Chapman had left his crease.
Nadeem Ahmed was excellent off his four overs, which included this dismissal off Adnan Ilyas. #AsiaCupT20 #HKGvOMA pic.twitter.com/J3sXfqK536
— Hong Kong Cricket (@CricketHK) February 19, 2016
Hayat tried his best to get his side over the line, blasting nine fours and seven sixes in a remarkable 60-ball 122, the fourth highest T20I score, but they came up just short on 175 for seven.
All seven Oman batsmen reached double figures, Jatinder Singh top-scoring with 42, as they posted 180 for five after winning the toss.
UAE pulled off a shock in the first qualifier, beating Afghanistan by 16 runs following a brilliant all-round display from Rohan Mustafa.
Mustafa smashed 77 from 50 balls from the top of the order to lift his side to 176 for four after they opted to make first use.
He then took 3-19 to help dismiss Afghanistan for 160 from the penultimate ball of the innings, despite Karim Sadiq hitting 72 from 48 balls.
Source: ECB