DAY 5 -BAHRAIN DOMINATE GROUP A WITH THREE WINS BUT BHUTAN FINISH SECOND

The two semi-finalist from Group A in the ACC Men’s Challenger Cup in Bangkok were decided as Bahrain hammered Iran by 10 wickets at TCG to finish with three wins which then allowed Bhutan to finish second after gaining their first win by beating Maldives by four wickets at AIT. Bhutan, Iran and Maldives had all won one match but Bhutan finish second by virtue of their net run-rate.

Iran have performed well in this tournament so far with some determined batting and excellent bowling particularly from their spinners. They still had a chance of reaching the semi-finals if they could perform well against mighty Bahrain who had won their first two matches in the tournament.

Iran won the toss at TCG and batted first in a match reduced to 45 overs but their hopes were quickly in ruins as they lost four wickets in the first six overs. The openers showed some resistance but left-arm spinner Zeeshan Abbas had already taken three wickets and medium pacer Ali Dawood also had one wicket. Four wickets were down for just 10 but Iran had progressed to 20 for four after the nine-over powerplay.

Bahrain’s premier left-arm spinner Abdul Majid then took two wickets as Iran collapsed to 29 for six and Zeeshan Abbas  finished with figures of 3 for 23 from nine overs..

Iran did not post a big enough total to have any chance against Bahrain either to win or maintain their current net run-rate. They were bowled out for 46 by Bahrain in 19.5 overs. Abdul Majid continued to have a grat tournament with the ball as he took 4 for 12 while Imran Javed took two wickets in his only over.

Bahrain beat Iran by 10 wickets as they scored 50 for 0 in 4 overs. Ahmer Bin Nasir made 16 from 13 balls and Sohail Ahmed 30 from 12 balls. Bahrain finished at the top of the group with three wins out of three, so now attention turned to AIT and the battle between Maldives and Bhutan.

Maldives and Bhutan were effectively playing off for second place in Group A of as Maldives would have gain their second victory if they had won and finished in second place on four points. Bhutan would move ahead of Maldives if they won and hoped to finish second if Bahrain beat Iran by a big margin.

All to play for and Maldives made a positive start with eight runs of the first over. Ismail Ali and Adam Nasif both found the boundary as Maldives reached 23 when Ismail Ali was run out when the bowler  Tenzin Wangchuk threw down the stumps.

Tenzin Wangchuk was having a great morning as he followed his run out with a catch and a wicket as Maldives were reduced to 35 for 3 after 10 overs. He took the catch at short cover as Mohamed Rishwan fell for 0 and then got Adam Nasir lbw for 23.

Bhutan were using a spin based attack once Tenzin finished a spell of 5-1-22-1 and Maldives were batting cautiously. Ibrahim Nashant brought up the 50 in the 15th over with a sweep for four.

Ibrahim Nasanth was then dropped at first slip but Ngawang Thinley claimed the fourth wicket as Mohamed Azzam was caught behind for 11. Bhutan’s spinners were keeping it tight as Maldives were 55 for 4 after 18 overs at drinks.

Ibrahim Nashanth was showing great patience but he has hit a second boundary wide of long on. Hassan Rasheed was showing good defence. He has hit his first four but he was then caught at wide long on as Ngawang Thinley took his second wicket as Maldives were 68 for 5 in the 25th over.

Ibrahim Nashanth hit another boundary through mid-wicket but his luck ran out when he was caught in the leg-side for 20 as Ngawang Thinley got his third wicket  Maldives were 75 for six.

Off-spinner Ngawang Thinley finished an excellent spell of 3 for 25 in his 10 overs but Maldives brought up their 100 in the 38th over. Another wicket has just fallen as Tenzin Wangchuk claimed his second run out with Maldives on 100 for 7.

Tenzin Wangchuk has come on for a new spell but another wicket has fallen to spin as Ibrahim Hassan was caught and bowled by Suprit Pradhan. Maldives were 102 for 8 in 40 overs

Nine wickets down for Maldives as Tenzin Wangchuk collected his second wicket as Ameel Maroof was lbw for 18. The last pair were at the crease and it is Wangchuk who finished the innings off by bowling Leem Shafeeg. Maldives have been dismissed for 105 in 42.2 overs.

Bhutan’s batting has not been secure this week so a successful chase would require their highest score of the tournament. Thinley Jamtsho always bats with flair and he hit three boundaries before he was out to Ibrahim Hassan for 19 off 21 balls. The score was 31 for one after 5 overs and had moved to 39 for one off 9 overs at lunch.

Bhutan passed fifty with one wicket down and progressed to 62 without losing another wicket but then Adhikari was lbw to Leem Shafeeq for 8 from 43 balls and with the rate dropping Jigme Singye was stumped off Shuman Ali for 24 from 49 balls.  Bhutan were 66 for 3 from 20 overs with 40 runs to win and   seven wickets left.

The nerves were setting in now for Bhutan as they lost their fourth wicket on 67 as Gakul Ghalley was bowled by Leem Shafeeq for 1. The fifth wicket fell as Namgang Chejay was out for 6 with the score on 70.

Six wickets down for 74 as Namgay Thinley hit a four then was lbw to the outstanding Leem Shafeeq as the Bhutan chase was stumbling badly.

Leem Shafeeq had bowled superbly with four wickets but Adam Nasif brought himself back on and Bhutan sensed their chance of making vital runs. Suprit Pradhan hit two fours and 13 runs came from the over. Only 12 more runs were needed to win now.

Leem came off with 4 for 11 and Suprit Pradhan swept another four. The hundred was up in 28 overs and only five more runs were needed for victory and a place in thesemi-finals.

Ranjung Dorji has hit the first ball after drinks for four and a wide brought Bhutan a memorable victory by four wickets and they have claimed a place in the semi-finals.

They finished on 106 for 6 from 28.1 overs after a seventh wicket partnership of 33 between Ranjung Dorji and Suprit Pradhan. They lost five wickets for 12 but had won through in the end. Suprit Pradhan was named man of the match for his vital innings and an immaculate spell of spin bowling.

Bahrain and Bhutan have progressed to the semi-finals of the ACC Men’s Challenger Cup from Group A and tomorrow will see the conclusion of Group B when Saudi Arabia play Myanmar at TCG and Thailand face Indonesia at AIT. Saudi Arabia are already through to the semi-finals and play the minnows of the group but Thailand against Indonesia should see an exciting contest that will see the winners take the last place in the semi-finals.

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