SAUDI ARABIA KEEP HOPES ALIVE BUT IT’S HEARTBREAK FOR BHUTAN; OMAN QUALIFY FOR SEMI-FINALS

The fourth day of the ICC U19 Men’s World Cup Asia Division 2 Qualifier in Bangkok saw Saudi Arabia play Bhutan at TCG and Oman face Hong Kong, China at AIT. The match at AIT was a top of the table contest in Group B as Oman and Hong Kong, China had won their opening matches but Saudi Arabia and Bhutan were hoping for better things in their contest at TCG after defeats in the first round of matches.

It was a fantastically exciting day of cricket and Oman have confirmed their place in the semi-finals with their victory by 53 runs over Hong Kong, China at AIT but Saudi Arabia have kept their hopes alive by beating Bhutan by one wicket at TCG after looking down and out.

At TCG Bhutan have won the toss and decided to bat first and they started well against the medium pace of Fahad Munir and the slow left-arm spin of Ahmed Faisal. Ahmed Faisal did take a wicket as Tshering Rigden was bowled for 18 from 18 balls with 4 fours but number three Tenzin Rabgay has really gone for his shots. Ronak Pradhan has batted more cautiously but they combined well as they brought up the fifty partnership for the second wicket. Bhutan were very well-placed at 83 for 1 after 15 overs.

Tenzin Rabgay’s attractive innings was ended on 44 from 38 balls with 9 fours as he was bowled by Arhan Arif with the score on 85 and Saudi Arabia took their third wicket as Anuj Pradhan was dismissed by Taha Amre. Bhutan were 95 for 3 after 20 overs and progressed to 114 at the halfway stage of the innings as Ronak was still batting steadily with Ugyen Dorji. The run-rate slowed down but Bhutan were intent on facing their full 50 overs. Saudi Arabia’s bowlers were holding up well having been in the field for 50 overs against Oman. After 30 overs Bhutan were 126 for 3 and so had scored 31 in the last 10 overs.

Bhutan’s 150 came up in the 35^th over with Ronak Pradhan and Ugyen Dorji still at the crease but Ronak’s patient innings ended on 34 from 88 balls as he was caught and bowled by Taha Amre with the score on 152 and the fifth wicket fell soon afterwards as Kishan Subba was out for 1 as Taha claimed his third wicket. Saudi Arabia have a left-arm over opening bowler and three left-handed spinners and Anas who is a wrist spinner bowled Ugyen for 30 as Bhutan were now 157 for 6.

Ahmed Faisal took the seventh wicket and Taha who was bowling his last over claimed the eighth wicket as Bhutan’s lower order were struggling against the Saudi Arabia spinners. Taha finished with excellent figures of 4 for 27 with 44 dot balls as Bhutan were 163 for 8 with eight overs left in their innings. Jigme Tenzin hit two boundaries but was bowled by Zuber and Faisal finished his spell with figures of 2 for 41. Bhutan were bowled out for 178 in 47 overs as Anas took his second wicket from the last ball of his 10^th over.

Saudi Arabia’s openers both looked confident in the pursuit of a target of 179 Shahzad Sami was lbw to Sangay Dorji for 9 and captain Rayyan Khan was caught behind off Ugyen Dorji for 12.Saudi Arabia were 24 for 2 in 4 overs. Zuber and Rehan had come together needing to rebuild for Saudi Arabia and the score had reached 47 in 8 overs when spin was introduced for the first time and Zuber hit a boundary off leg-spinner Tenzin to bring up the 50. Off-spinner Ngaden bowled the 10^th over and Zuber hit another boundary as Saudi Arabia reached 56 at the end of the powerplay.

Zuber was taking charge of the third-wicket partnership as he hit five boundaries against the Bhutan spinners but he was caught and bowled by Ajith Limbu for 31 from 42 balls with the score on 70 for 3. Rehan had been joined by Hashir and the target was now less than 100 runs away and it was an intriguing battle between the Saudi batsmen and the Bhutan spinners. The total was 83 for 3 after 20 overs.

Bhutan turned back to pace and runs came more freely against Ugyen Dorji  but Jigme Tenzin claimed the fourth wicket as he bowled Hashir for 10 with the score on 96. Just one run later the fifth wicket was lost as new batsman Anas was run out without scoring and Bhutan looked to have taken charge of the match. Rehan was still there and Fahad hit three fours in his first five balls. Saudi Arabia were 109 for 5 in 25 overs but the crucial blow may have been struck with Rehan caught behind off Jigme for 21 from 56 balls.

Saudi Arabia lost their seventh wicket on 113 in the 27^th over when Fahad Munir was out for 16 off Ugyen Dorji and the eighth wicket soon followed when Taha Amre was out for 1 off the bowling of Sangay Dorji as Saudi Arabia slipped to 117 for 8. The lower order were still fighting hard and the total stood on 135 for 8 after 35 overs. 44 runs were needed from 15 overs.

As Omair Ahmed hit his second four Saudi Arabia were batting with renewed hope as they reached 143 for 8 in 40 overs. Now 36 more runs were needed from the last 10 overs with Omair on 15 and Ahmed Faisal on 5.  The batsmen were still batting sensibly, looking for singles and allowing wides to mount up, and the score was progressing well as 150 was up in 42 overs. Now 29 runs were needed in 8 overs.

After 44 overs Saudi Arabia were 157 for 8 with Omair on 19 and Ahmed Faisal on 11. 22 runs were needed from 36 balls. Tension was mounting with Saudi’s desires for a new professional approach and Bhutan’s hopes of victory over a higher ranked side in the balance. Cheers now from the Young Greens as a no ball is followed by a wide. Eight runs off the over and Bhutan surely need a wicket with just 14 runs required from 30 balls. Can the Saudis hold their nerve? Down to 10 runs from 24 balls.

Suddenly Tenzin Rabgay has taken a wicket with a brilliant caught and bowled to end a fine innings from Omair as he made 23 from 67 balls. Saudi Arabia were now 169 for 9 and the ninth-wicket partnership had added 52 priceless runs. The last pair were at the crease and Ahmed Faisal hit the ball towards the boundary but has run one short off the last ball of the over. Two wides have got him back on strike before another single was taken. Number 11 against the leg-spinner but he survived and four more runs were required.

Ahmed Faisal has won the match for Saudi Arabia by one wicket as he hit the crucial boundary down to fine leg. An incredible victory for Saudi Arabia after being 117 for 8 when Ahmed came to the crease. He finished unbeaten on 22 from 63 balls and the winning hit was his first boundary after an exciting finish as Saudi Arabia overcame Bhutan with a score of 179 for 9 in 49.1 overs.

Saudi Arabia’s hopes of progress in the tournament are still alive but Bhutan have suffered a heart-breaking defeat.

At AIT Oman won the toss and chose to bat against Hong Kong, China and they lost a wicket in the fifth over as Jeet Shah was dismissed by Daniel Mapp and they  claimed their second wicket on 18 when Gaurav Dinesh was bowled by Parth Srivastava. Sumanaskera was third out when he was caught behind for 11 off Rishan Shah and Shah got a second wicket when he bowled Soumya Sampat for 14. Hong Kong, China’s bowlers were on top with Oman 41 for 4 in 17 overs.

Oman recovered thanks to a fifth-wicket partnership which passed fifty between Aneek Chakrovarty and Rahil Habibulla as they were trying to post a formidable total after managing 222 against Saudi Arabia.

The Hong Kong, China spinners Shayan Puri and Harry Hodgson have again bowled accurately as they conceded only 69 runs from their 20 overs but were not able to take any wickets. The fifth wicket stand was continuing as Oman were 120 for 4 after 40 overs. Hong Kong, China were still keeping the runs in check.

The milestones were coming for Oman as Habibulla reached his 50 in 83 balls and Aneek followed in 88 balls as the fifth-wicket pair raised the 100 partnership in 27 overs. Daniel Mapp finally made the breakthrough as he had Habibulla caught by captain Shiv Mathur and Aneek was bowled by Shah for 51. Shah claimed his fourth wicket as Oman tried to hit out towards the end of the innings and he then took three wickets in the final over of the innings as Oman were bowled out for 180. Rohan Shah had the remarkable figures of 7 for 21 in his 8 overs.

Oman players celebrates the wicket of Rayyan Khan captain of Saudi Arabia during the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup Asia Division 2 Qualifier match between Oman and Saudi Arabia held at the Asian Institute of Technology Ground, Bangkok, Thailand on February 26, 2024.
Photo by: Vipin Pawar / Creimas
RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE

Oman had done well to reach 180 after recovering from 41 for 4 now they were looking useful with the new ball as Dinesh struck in his first over by getting Aarez Dar lbw for 0 and then dismissing Arya caught and bowled  for 8 in his second over. Hong Kong, China were 12 for 2 in 3 overs with both openers back in the pavilion. Shiv Mathur and Matthew Clayton were the third-wicket pair and they looked to lead the recovery as Hong Kong, China were 35 for 2 after 10 overs.

Hong Kong, China were building a third-wicket partnership as the score reached 56 for 2 in 20 overs with Mathur on 20 and Clayton on 27. Hong Kong, China still needed 125 in 30 overs so the batsmen will be looking to accelerate soon.

The third wicket fell with the score on 59 as Clayton was run out for 28 from 69 balls. The pressure was mounting on the batsmen and Khrish Butani was also run out and Mathur was the fifth wicket to fall with the score on 68 as he made 26 from 69 balls. Aneek then struck with his first ball as Hong Kong, China were 68 for 6 when Harry Hodgson fell for 0. At 70 for 6 Hong Kong China needed 121 from the last 20 overs with four wickets in hand.

Hong Kong, China were struggling as they lost their seventh wicket on 98 in the 40^th over as Will Marsh was dismissed by Gaurav Dinesh for 13. Hong Kong, China still needed 82 from the last 10 overs.

Daniel Mapp was hitting out well for Hong Kong, China but Rishan Shah was out for 12 and nine wickets were down for 123 as Oman were close to victory. Mapp was last man out for 26 and Hong Kong, China were bowled out for 127 in 46 overs. Oman had gained their second win of the competition by 53 runs to cement their first place in Group A.