DAY 4 – SAUDI ARABIA GO TO THE TOP OF GROUP B AFTER BEATING THAILAND

Day four of the ACC Men’s Challenger Cup saw the two unbeaten teams in Group B face each other but it was Saudi Arabia who confirmed their place in the semi-finals by beating Thailand by nine wickets at AIT. Indonesia won their first match of the tournament by beating Myanmar by 195 runs at TCG.

The start of the match at AIT was delayed before Saudi Arabia won the toss and elected to field in a match reduced to 45 overs. Play started at 1100 am and Jandre Coetzee who had a notable career in South African cricket was making his debut for Thailand.

Thailand were expecting a stiff test against Saudi Arabia and so it proved in the very first over. Daniel Jacobs had scored a mighty 152 against Myanmar but he missed his first two balls today and edged the third to the keeper as Atif-ur-Rehman bowled a probing line and length.

Thailand number three Chaloemwong Chatpaisan hit a nice drive for four but was bowled by Atif for 7 as the second wicket fell at 11. Opener Phiriyaphong Suanchai also drove to the boundary but was caught by the keeper from Ishtiaq Ahmed to leave Thailand on 15 for three.

Thailand were hoping for resistance from Akshay Yadav and Robert Raina but even the experienced Raina was undone by a short ball from Ishtiaq which he could only fend to the keeper. Thailand were now 18 for four and they reached 32 for four after 10 overs with captain Akshay Yadav joined by Narawit Nuntarach who impressed against Myanmar with 70*.

Thailand lost their fifth wicket as Saudi Arabia turned to spin. Narawit Nuntarach was caught behind off the left-arm spin of Zainul Abidin for 13. Thailand were 42 for 5 and Jandre Coetzee had come to the crease to join his captain.

Akshay Yadav was next out with the score on 54 for 6 as he was given out lbw to Abdul Wahid after a watchful innings of 19 from 43 balls.

Jandre Coetzee was seventh out for 8 with the score on 63 as Saudi keeper Haseeb Ghafoor took his fifth catch of the innings. Chanchai Pengkumta was caught at slip for 5 so Thailand were now 68 for 8.

Thailand were quickly all out for 80 after 25.2 overs as Sittipong Hongsi was run out when Zuhair Muhammad threw to the keeper and Mahsid Faheem was last out bowled by Zainul Abidin who finished with 3 for 18 while Atif ur Rehman, Ishtiaq Ahmed and Abdul Waheed all took two wickets apiece. Only two batsmen reached double figures so Thailand will be disappointed with their batting performance.

Needing only 81 to win, Saudi Arabia looked to have started well. Jandre Coetzee took the new ball bowling left-arm over the wicket and in his third over he took the first wicket as he dismissed Abdul Waheed lbw for 16. Saudi Arabia wew 23 for one after 5 overs.

Jandre Coetzee only bowled 3 overs in his opening spell but had fine figures of 3-1-5-1. His pedigree as a fast bowler with more than 300 first-class wickets was clear. Saudi Arabia had reached 50 for one after 9 overs even as Akshay Yadav tried all his bowling options.

Saudi Arabia were making such good progress towards their target that lunch which had already been delayed because of the late start was being held back so the game could be completed with a handful of runs needed and only one wicket lost.

Saudi Arabia beat Thailand by nine wickets as they reached 81 for one in 15.4 overs. Opener Waqar Ul Hassan was unbeaten on 34 and Saad Khan was unbeaten on 27 as they shared an unbroken second wicket partnership of 58.

Wicket-keeper Haseeb Ghafoor was named man of the match for his five catches behind the stumps and Saudi Arabia were now clear favourites to win the group with one round of matches to go.

In the day’s other match, Indonesia and Myanmar were looking to gain a confidence boosting victory in their contest at TCG. Indonesia won the toss and chose to bat and they made a good start by reaching 53 for 2 in the first powerplay of 10 overs. They have looked to be positive and hit seven boundaries but Myanmar’s opening bowlers have taken a wicket apiece.

Indonesia were continuing to bat well and it is Padmakar Surve who was leading the way. Fresh from making 63 against Saudi Arabia in the first match, he was 36 from 28 balls as Indonesia reached the 100 in the 18th over with only two wickets down.

Padmakar Surve is having quite a tournament for Indonesia as the made his second successive fifty from just 37 balls with five fours and a six. Indonesia were 147 for three after 25 overs.

Padmakar Surve made his hundred for and it was third century of the tournament and also the fastest as he faced only 77 balls and hit 11 fours and a six as Indonesia raced past 200.

I Kadek Gammantika was fourth out for 41 but he helped Padmakar Surve add 130 for fourth wicket and a fine innings has ended as Surve was out for 128 from 91 balls with 16 fours and a six. With 10 overs left Indonesia were 246 for five.

Indonesia managed to reach 300 in the last over and finished on 300 for eight as their final total thanks to Padmakar Surve’s innings of 128. Nyein Chan Soe took 3 for 38 and Htet Lin Oo claimed 2 for 45.

Myanmar reached 44 for 2 after 10 overs as they faced a target of 301. Danilson Hawoe dismissed both openers with Ko Ko Lin Thu scoring 22.

Myanmar were making sound progress as they reached 58 for 2 but wickets have been tumbling on a regular basis as Indonesia were moving towards their first win of the tournament.

Muhammad Afis took the third and fourth wickets with his off-spin and then it was over to Gede Arta who worked his way through the rest of the batting line up to finish with 5 for 25 as Myanmar collapsed to 105 all out in 28.5 overs.

Indonesia won by 195 runs with a very impressive performance and they now know that victory over Thailand on Wednesday at AIT will give them a place in the semi-finals. Thailand will probably still be favourites but cannot take Indonesia lightly and particularly not Padmakar Surve man of the match for his innings of 128.

Saudi Arabia will face Myanmar in the final round of matches with their place in the semi-finals already secured.

Tomorrow’s matches in Group B see Iran face Bahrain at TCG and Maldives play Bhutan at AIT. Bahrain are effectively through to the semi-finals but the second place is still up for grabs.

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