Thailand played their second match of the Malaysia T20 Tri-series as they faced Maldives at the Kinrara Stadium on Wednesday and for most of the morning looked on course for a historic first victory in official T20 Internationals. Both sides had lost their opening matches against Malaysia so a competitive contest was on the cards as Shafiqul Haque was promoted to open after Thailand won the toss and chose to bat first. He hit the ball cleanly as his side made an excellent start as they reached 40 for no wicket after five overs. He hit the next ball hard to square cover and set off for a non-existent run only to be run out for a pugnacious innings of 30 from 16 balls.
After this setback, Thailand’s run rate slowed below six an over as Maldives spinnerclaimed the wickets of South Africans Jacobs and Jordaan. Naveed Pathan launched a counter attack as he made 34 from 31 balls thanks to two sixes but Thailand were unable to keep the momentum going until the end of the 20 overs as their final total was 130 for 7. It was still likely to be a stiff test for the Maldives batsmen who had been bowled out for 113 by Malaysia the day before.
Thailand started well with the ball as Mahsid Faheem was able to the swing the new ball and bowled a useful opening spell. Thailand’s main spinners Ziaul Hoque and Vichanath Singh bowled extremely economically and claimed crucial wickets. They bowled seven overs between them for just 20 runs and taken a wicket apiece as Thailand looked set for victory with Maldives on 61 for 4 after 13 overs. 70 runs were needed from seven overs with the ball very much on top of the balls.
The Thai captain turned to part time off-spinner Sittipong Hongsi who conceded 15 runs from his solitary over but a wicket from the last ball gave keeper Shafiqul Haque the chance to take off his pads and take the ball as he conceded six singles from his first over and even took a wicket in his second. Vichanath Singh and Mahsid Faheem returned to complete excellent spells and Maldives were 121 for 7 from 19 overs.
10 runs were needed from the last over.but who would bowl it? There were several bowling options but each had proved expensive, so it was wicket-keeper and opening batsman Shafiqul Haque who again took the ball. The second ball of the over was hit for six and the stand-in keeper then conceded a bye, but somehow a run out and a dot ball followed. Two runs were needed from the last ball and a gentle off-break was delivered in the hope the batsman would hole out to long on. Instead the Maldives batsmen were able to complete the two runs required for victory as they won by two wickets from the last ball of their 20 overs.
An exciting finish but what an opportunity missed by Thailand after their frontline bowlers had appeared to create a winning position. Thailand will hope for better in their next match when they face Malaysia at 9 am on Thursday morning.
