Three-way race for Asia Qualifier Group A title as Bahrain bat out Saudi Arabia

October 28, 2021

Three-way race for Asia Qualifier Group A title as Bahrain bat out Saudi Arabia

DOHA

Bahrain raised temperature in the Asia Qualifier Group A for for the ICC T20 Men’s World Cup after they piled up 179 for nine, the highest total in the event so far, against Saudi Arabia and then carved out a dominant 18-run triumph at the Asian Town Stadium on Thursday. Their second victory in four matches, thanks to a blistering 67 off 47 balls by Abdul Wahid, took them to the top with six points and a healthy net run-rate of 2.409.

On the last day of the tournament on Friday, Qatar and Kuwait, who are also in the race with two wins each, are scheduled to clash. It is clear that only the winner can challenge Bahrain and it will have to win by a big margin in order to beat the Bahrain’s NRR. So plenty of fireworks are expected at the venue on the morrow.

Saudi Arabia, who defeated Kuwait and added suspense to the five-team contest, fell out of the contention after their second loss and are holding the fourth spot, while Maldives are at the bottom with zero points. Only the champion will gain the right to play in the one of the two global qualifier for the mega event, to be hosted by Australia next year.

Right from the moment Bahrain were asked to bat first, they began attacking the rivals bowlers and mustered 89 runs for the opening wicket through man of the match Sarfaraz Ali and Muhammad Younis. Soon after Ali smashed a six off Imran Yousaf in the 10th over, the bowler responded with splitting up the pair. He bowled Younis for 33 with three sixes and a four.

Ali kept up his power-hitting at one end and whacked two more sixes before falling to Hisham Sheikh in the 13th over. But his 45-ball cameo, which contained six sixes and three fours, provided the much-needed springboard to his team. Though they kept losing wickets, Bahrain managed to post the daunting total.

Saudi Arabia attempted to force the pace but could not succeed against some tight bowling by Bahrain. At one stage they were reeling six down for 58. Though Abdul Wahid sought to repair the damage with his fighting 72 not out and his 56-run alliance Hisham Sheikh (22 off 20) for the sixth wicket, the task was too steep to accomplish. In the end, they required 66 runs off the final overs and could reply with 161 for six. Wahid’s 40-ball knock was quite gritty, having five sixes and six fours.

Sathaiya Veerapathiran and skipper Anasim Khan shared four wickets, while Imran Anwar and Waseed Ahmed picked one scalp apiece. Ali was adjudged the player of the match for his fiery batting.