Oman beats Nepal by two wickets on third day of the Asian Cricket Council Premier League
Malaysia bowlers kept chipping away with wickets as Afghanistan folded for 175.
Khizar Hayat’s four-wicket haul
helped Malaysia secure an upset win against Afghanistan in the seventh
match of the Asian Cricket Council Premier League at the Bayuemas Oval
in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday (May 4).
Afghanistan was kept to a modest total of 175 in 46 overs, and
Malaysia achieved the target in 37 overs, winning by three wickets and
overcoming a few hiccups in its chase.
Anwar Arudin (34) and Ahmed Faiz (44) gave Malaysia much-needed
momentum in the chase with a 40-run stand for the second wicket in 4.5
overs after Hammadullah Khan had fallen for just 6 in the fourth over.
In at No.4, Shafiq Sharif ensured the runs kept coming with a 77-ball
44.
When Malaysia was just ten runs away from victory, it lost Sharif,
Suhan Alagaratnam (15) and Hayat (5) in quick succession but with not
enough runs on the board, Afghanistan couldn’t force a win.
Earlier, Hayat had taken 4 for 29 with his offspin after Malaysia
chose to bowl first. He accounted for the first three batsmen after
openers Noor Ali Zadran (18) and Usman Ghani (36) had made a steady
start. Wickets fell regularly, and apart from Ghani, Nasir Jamal, who
also made 36, was the only batsman to go on and make good score after
getting a start.
That trend was reflected in the partnerships, with Afghanistan having
a string of decent ones, but not converting any of them into a big
stand.
Hayat’s efforts netted him the Man of the Match award.
In another match on Sunday, Oman won a close game by two wickets over
Nepal at the Selangor Turf Club. Aamir Kaleem starred with the ball for
Oman and was awarded the Man of the Match.
Kaleem’s 4 for 36 was instrumental in restricting Nepal to a
manageable total of 157 all out in 47 over. Oman then chased down the
target in 47.5 overs but not before the Nepal bowlers put up a valiant
effort.
Put in to bat, Nepal got off to a bad start with Subash Khakurel
scoring a second consecutive duck, but Gyanendra Malla (26) and Naresh
Budayair (23) steadied the innings with a 40-run stand. The Oman bowlers
fought back and kept chipping away with wickets as Nepal could put up
only a modest total.
Zeeshan Maqsood and Ajay Vrajlal Lalcheta picked up two wickets each for Oman.
The start of Oman’s innings was also not ideal, as it lost Zeeshan
Siddiqui for a duck. Maqsood (44) and Vaibhav Wategaonkar added 50 runs
for the second wicket to get the chase going. Though Wategaonkar fell
for 8 in the eighth over, Arif Hussain (23) and Maqsood didn’t let the
momentum swing towards Nepal as the duo added another 37 runs in 8.5
overs.
However, Shakti Gauchan (2 for 19) and Paras Khadka (2 for 23) kept
things tight and were rewarded for their economical bowling. With eight
wickets down for 126, a calm-headed performance by captain Sultan Ahmed
(32 off 55 balls) ensured Oman claimed its second victory of the
tournament.
Oman will play Afghanistan in its next match, while, Nepal will be up
against Hong Kong on May 5. Malaysia will play the United Arab Emirates
on the same day.
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