Afghanistan and Malaysia won their respective matches of ACC Twenty20 Cup played today. Afghanistan defeated Bahrain in their Group A match by 72 runs while Malaysia ran over Singapore in a high scoring match by 6 wickets.
Gulbadin Naib Stars in Afghan Victory
Gulbadin Naib’s all round performance helped Afghanistan defeat minnows Bahrain by 72 runs in today’s match of ACC T20 Cup played at Pulchowk Engineering Cricket Ground.
Losing the toss and put into bat first Afghanistan posted 157/5 in 20 overs; Afghan batsmen started slow and kept losing wickets at constant interval and at the start of 10th over were 62-4. Gulbadin Naib and Najibulah Zadran then handled the innings adding 83 for the sixth wicket. Naib eventually got out for 45 of 41 balls in the second ball of last over. Mohamed Nabi then joined Zadran and hit 11 n.o. off just 3 balls as Agfhan score crossed 150. Zadran top scored for the Afghan team and remained not out in 45 off just 31 balls.
Sameer Yusuf bagged two wickets for Bahrain while captain Tahir Dar and V.Kunder got wicket a piece.
Chasing 157 Bahrain were packed for just 85 as Naib ran through the top and middle order picking up 4 wickets. Hamza Hotak cleared the tail and got 3 wickets.Mohamed Nabi, Samiullah Serwani and Shapoot Zadran bagged wicket a piece as Bahrain were knocked over for 85
With two wins in a row, Afghanistan are on top of Group B points table, bettering UAE only in Net Run Rate. Afghanistan will take on UAE in their next match to be played at TU International Cricket Ground this Saturday.
Suhan Guides Malaysia to Glory
Captain of the Malaysian team Suhan Kumar scored 70 of 37 balls to guide his team to victory against Singapore chasing a massive target of 172 in the Group B match played today at Tribhuwan University International Cricket Ground.. This was the first win for Malaysia in ACC T20 Cup. They had lost to Hong Kong in their first match. With the win, Malaysia are placed fourth in Group B; Nepal and Maldives both with 1 win have better net run rate.
Earlier in the match Singapore obliged Malaysia’s invitation to bat first by posting a mammoth total of 171 losing 6 wickets. Chaminda Ruwan Kumarange top scored for Maldives with 47 of 25 balls-hitting 4 sixes in his innings. Earlier opener Gaznavi gave Singapore ideal start as hitting 4 fours and 1 six in his 23 runs innings that lasted 11 balls. Anish Param guided Singapore past 170 scoring 44 of 29 balls. In a high scoring game bowlers did not impress, Nazril Rahman, Ullah Khan, Hassan Gulam, Khiza Durraani and Sharulnizam Yusum all picked up a wicket.
Chasing 172 Malaysia didn’t only started slow but lost early wickets and at end of 3 overs were 20-2. Captain Suhan Kumar then came into bat and added 42 for 3rd wicket with Ahmed Fiaz(19 of 21 balls ), 37 for 4th wicket with Shafiq Sharif(26 of 14 balls), and eventually guided team to victory with Khizar Hyat Durrani who remained not out on 30 of 18 balls.
Suhan scored 7 fours and 3 sixes in his match winning innings of 70, leading his team to a convincing victory with 2 overs to spare.
