SAUDI ARABIA SEE OFF CAMBODIA CHALLENGE TO WIN ACC CHALLENGER CUP

We had just witnessed a fantastic run chase from Singapore who beat Japan in the third-place play-off in the morning so it was time for Saudi Arabia to take on Cambodia in the final of the ACC Men’s Challenger Cup at TCG in Bangkok. Saudi Arabia had won the 50-over version last year and they have completed a well-deserved double as they won the T20 competition by five wickets.

Saudi Arabia have won the toss and elected to field and we saw the runs flowing in both innings of the morning match but it was an entirely different proposition when Saudi Arabia were using  the new ball. Ishtiaq Ahmad and Atif-ur-Rehman bowled a good line and length at fair pace so runs were hard to come by.

Uday Hathinjar was finding his feet and hit three boundaries from the occasional loose ball but Uday was out lbw to Atif as Cambodia were 19 for 1 after 4 overs.

Usman Najeeb was introduced and Cambodia were under real pressure. Ram Sharan was the player of the match in the semi-final but was lbw without scoring. Lugman Butt was now at the crease with work to do and he drove Atif for four. What a challenge for the captain of Cambodia. His country were 32 for 2 after six overs.

Hisham Shaikh brought himself on and Lugm anplayed an impressive sweep but Lakshit has been caught at mid-wicket to leave Cambodia on 41 for 3 after eight overs. A pair of boundaries to Lugman brought up the fifty in the 10th over and Cambodia were 55 for 3 at the halfway stage.

Cambodia know their only chance of making a competitive score was for Lugman to bat to the end of the 20 overs and for the lower-order to give him useful support. Lugman reached his 50 from 39 balls and Etienne Beukes hit two fours and two sixes from an Usman Khalid over.

Lugman finished unbeaten on 80 from 53 balls with 10 fours and 3 sixes as he played a great innings against a strong bowling attack that would have brought back memories of his first-class career in Pakistan. Cambodia made 147 for 5 in 20 overs which at least gave them a chance to make Saudi Arabia work hard for their victory.

Saudi Arabia started confidently with Abdul Waheed hitting three fours in the first over and three more boundaries came in the second over as they raced to 27 for 0.

Sharwan Godara took the first wicket as he had Waheed caught behind and Utkarsh Jain dismissed Faisal Khan caught and bowled and he followed with the wicket of Waji-ul-Hassan who was caught on the boundary. Saudi Arabia were 37 for 3 in four overs.

Waqar-ul-Hassan and Hisham Shaikh would have to look to build a partnership and boundaries to Waqar have taken the total to 54 for 3 in six overs. Waqar was the most consistent batter in the 50-over tournament last year and Hisham was an experienced cricketer as well as captain of his country. Hisham hit a six and Saudi Arabia were 80 for 3 after 10 overs.

Hisham was determined to see his team through to victory on a day when all the captains had top scored for their teams. Waqar was out at 107 for 4 after a partnership of 70 but Manan Ali came in to support his captain.

Hisham would finish just short of his fifty as Manan was out with just two runs needed. Hisham hit a single to bring the scores level and Usman Khalid hit the winning boundary as Saudi Arabia won by five wickets as they finished on 151 for 5 in 17.3 overs.

Cambodia had made Saudi Arabia fight hard until the end of the contest. Hisham was unbeaten on 47 from 41 balls and had figures of 2 for 25 so played a pivotal part in his side’s victory as they have now won both versions of the ACC Challenger Cup.

Hisham was named player of the math and Singapore captain Aritra Dutta batsman of the tournament. Cambodia’s Sharwan Godara was named bowler of the tournament and overall player of the tournament went to Lugman Butt for 245 runs and six wickets. Thailand were given the ACC Spirit of Cricket Award for their approach shown in this tournament.