MUSCAT: With four Test-playing nations in fray and few other Associate nations having previous World Cup experience, Oman’s showing at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier received a thumbs up from none other than their coach Duleep Mendis.

Team Red, skippered by Zeeshan Maqsood, stunned the cricketing world in their opening match of the Qualifier when they upset Test-playing and fancied Ireland side to begin their campaign on a rousing note. The Qualifer concludes on Sunday with a final match between Sri Lanka and Netherlands with both teams already securing a spot in the ODI World Cup to be played later this year in India.

And as if to send a message that the win over Ireland was no fluke, Oman defeated neighbouring UAE team for making it two wins in a row. Following those successive victories, Oman managed to earn a place in the Super Six, “an achievement to be proud of” in the words of former Sri Lankan great Mendis.

Mendis, who has been with the national team for the past decade and more, has been instrumental in leading Oman to two T20 World Cups and the sixth-place finish in the ODI World Cup Qualifier is the best result for the team in their history. Oman had previously competed in World Cup Qualifier twice in 2005 (Ireland) and 2009 (South Africa).

In Ireland, Oman finished ninth among 12 participating nations while in South Africa, Oman ended 11^th among 12 nations. The Zimbabwe Qualifier was the third time Oman had reached the final round of the World Cup qualification.

The latest showing in Zimbabwe where Oman were one of the three Associate nations (Netherlands and Scotland being the other two) to make it to the Super Six stage was something that Mendis is proud of and termed his team’s show in the Qualifier as “super performance”.

Speaking after the team’s return to Muscat on Friday morning to a warm welcome by Oman Cricket board members at the Muscat International Airport, Mendis said: “When we departed for Zimbabwe Qualifier, we were one of the teams least expected to make it to the Super Six stage. We surprised all by upsetting Ireland, a Test-playing nation in the opening clash to have a dream start to our campaign. It was a historic win, first against a Test-playing nation in an ODI.

“We played excellent cricket, and it was a brilliant performance by the boys in the first two games, the next a win against the UAE, that helped us to qualify to Super Six. Our Group B comprised World Cup champions Sri Lanka, who have qualified for the World Cup, Test-playing nation Ireland, Scotland, and UAE. It was a superb effort by the boys, good work by backroom and coaching staff, which was strongly backed by Oman Cricket board, under the chairmanship of Pankaj Khimji.”

Mendis added: “To qualify for the Super Six was a big achievement for Oman Cricket. There were some terrific individual performances during the first two games against Ireland and the UAE respectively. Once we made it to the Super Six, we were not able to carry the points forward as the teams we defeated couldn’t advance. `it was always going to be a tough task for us in the Super Six.

“We lost all the three matches in Super Six but our players gained lot of experience and even in this round, we had few exceptional displays with the match of Super Six against hosts Zimbabwe a close affair. Our skipper Shani (Zeeshan Maqsood) got injured and that was a big blow. His shoes are very difficult to fill in. Who knows what would have been had he been in the team for the next two matches.”

Mendis, who was the manager of the 1996 World Cup winning Sri Lanka squad, said: “It was nice to test some players who didn’t have the opportunity to play against big teams. They have learnt a lot and I am sure that it would be of good help in the tournaments ahead.

“We need to be more consistent with our performances and only exposure at this level will help us. We are getting closer to performing well at the big stage, but we need to improve and become consistent. We will reach there soon.”

Mendis said that Oman will be fielding an A side for the Emerging Asia Cup that will be played in Sri Lanka from July 12.

“We had a wonderful and successful tour in Zimbabwe. I think all the cricket fans of Oman can be proud and happy of the boys’ show in the Qualifier,” Mendis signed off.