Bahrain lose out to Saudi

Manama : Bahrain were beaten by six wickets against one of the favourites Saudi Arabia yesterday in its second match and the third round of round-robin matches of the International Cricket Council (ICC) 2017 World Cricket League (WCL) Asia Region Division One in Chiang Mai,Thailand.

The national team were bowled out for a disappointing 78 in 20 overs with just opener Janaka Chaturanga (18 off 33 deliveries, 3x4), Tahir Dahir (12 off 20, 1x6) and Awad Khan (10 off 10, 2x4) the only Bahrain batsmen to reach double figures.

Saudi Arabia’s Imran Arif and man of the match mpooed up the Bahrain tail with amazing figures of four for four in three overs, while Ibrarul Haq (four for 36) in seven overs also impressed.

Saudi Arabia in reply reached the target in scoring 79 for four in20.1 overs thanks to good knocks by Hammad Saeed (27 off 43, 4x6, 1x6) and Mohammed Abbassi (21 not out off 29, 2x4, 2x6), while Bahrain’s wickettakers were claimed by Jabbar Amjad (two for 14) in six overs, Janaka Chatarunga (one for six) in two overs and Mohammed Iqbal Noor (one for 10) in five overs.

Bahrain prepared for this championship with five friendly matches in Sri Lanka, winning three and losing two and getting aclimatised and getting used to turf wickets.

Under head coach Rexie Arunvasagam and manager Syed Rizwan Shah, the squad comprises comprises the captain, Azeem Ul Haq, Tahir Dar, Babar Ali, Junaid Niazi, Gamini Perrera, Imran Butt, Janaka Chaturanga, Mohammed Ismail, Amir Gondal, Mohammed Sameer Fayaz, Mohammed Iqbal, Awad Khan, Bilal Mansoor, Jabbar Amjad.

The teams competing in the tournament are hosts Thailand, Bhutan, Bahrain, China, Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, with the winner of the qualifier progressing to the ICC WCL Division 5 which will be staged in September 2017. Five regional qualifiers will play alongside two teams relegated from Division 4 and one team from Division 5.

This round of matches for Asia sees the seven teams play each other in a league with matches played on three grounds in the city of Chiang Mai in Northern Thailand. Each team will play a total of six matches spread over a 10 day period concluding on May 1 at Prem Tinsulanonda International School, Chiangmai Gymkhana and Royal Chiangmai Golf Club.

Other scores: 

1) Bhutan 58/0 in 5.1 overs (Jigme Singye (38no) bt China 56/10 in 20.3 overs (Zhang Yue Fei, 14, Ye Weiji 13; Jigme Singye8/24) by 10 wickets. 

2) Qatar 160/10 in 45.2 overs (Tamoor Sajjad 32, Khurram Shahzad 26, Mohammed Rizlan 24, Nouman Sarwar 22, Qalandar Khan 20; Nopphan Senamontree 3/35, Kamron Senamontree 2/22, Wanchana Uisuk 2/34) bt Thailand 100/10 in 36.4 overs (Daniel Jacobs 50no; Awais Malik 4/17, Mohammed Nadeem 2/25) by 60 runs.

Standings (after three rounds): (played-won-lost-points): 

1)Qatar (3-3-0-6), 

2)Saudi (2-2-0-4), 

3)Kuwait (2-1-1-2), 

4)Bahrain (2-1-1-2), 

5)Thailand (3-1-2-2), 

6)Bhutan (3-1-2-2), 

7)China (3-0-3-0).

Today’s schedule: 

1)Bahrain vs Qatar, 

2)Saudi Arabia vs Kuwait, 

3)Thailand vs China.