MYANMAR BEAT CHINA BY ONE WICKET IN ACC MEN’S T20 CHALLENGER CUP

The third match of the qualifier of the ACC Men’s T20 Challenger Cup saw Myanmar face China at TCG. The winner would finish second in the group and Myanmar won the toss and bowled first. It turned into a gripping contest and Myanmar edged home by one wicket in the last over.

Myanmar started well with the ball with Paing Danu bowling a maiden and Htet Lin Aung taking two wickets in his first over. Paing Danu took the third wicket as the top three in the China order were all dismissed for ducks.
China’s first boundary came through four overthrows but they lost their fourth wicket next ball in the 6th over. China were 19 for 4 at the end of the powerplay.

Ko Ko Lin Tu took his second wicket with the score on 22 for 5 and Htet Lin Aung took his third wicket as China slipped to 30 for 6. Finally after some near misses there was a run out from a direct hit as the seventh wicket fell in the 10th over.

China recovered from 32 for 8 to 74 all out in 19.3 overs thanks to number 10 Zong Yuechang who top scored with 19* and shared a ninth wicket partnership of 32 with Ma Qianchang.
China had a useful total to defend in this level of cricket especially as their three fast bowlers had shown great ability in yesterday’s match against Cambodia.

Myanmar lost both openers against the new ball with Tian Sequin and Ma Qiangcheng each taking an early wicket. They reached 24 for 2 in the first six overs and spin was soon introduced. Left-arm pace bowler Zong Yuechao kept China in the match with his batting and now has the ball and he took a wicket in his first over with Htet Lin Aung caught at long leg.

Zong took his second wicket of the innings in the 11th over so Myanmar had lost five wickets and the match was in the balance. The China captain turned to spin with slow left-arm, leg spin and off-spin to choose between and it was the left-arm spinner Chen Zhouyue who took 3 for 7. Pace returned in the 19th over and a rare boundary was hit from the first ball and six runs came off the over to bring Myanmar within two runs of victory.

The match went into the last over with both sides able to win and a tie being possible. Myanmar lost their ninth wicket to the first ball but a wide brought the scores level. A scrambled leg bye brought victory to Myanmar by 1 wicket.
Htet Lin Aung was named player of the match for his figures of 3 for 16 which put China on the back foot but both sides could be pleased after taking part in such a close contest. Myanmar finished second in the qualifier group and China third but the two sides will play again tomorrow in the ninth-place play-off.