BAHRAIN scored a fine 52-run victory over Qatar in their third match yesterday in the Wold Cricket League Asia Qualifiers in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Bahrain had beaten Thailand in their first match and lost to Saudi Arabia in the second on Tuesday.
But yesterday, the Bahraini cricketers put up an inspired performance and stopped Qatar’s run of three straight victories.
Batting first, Bahrain put up a challenging 233 runs for the loss of seven wickets in their 50 overs, thanks mainly to a 127-run partnership for the sixth wicket between GSPR Arachchige and Tahir Dar.
Bahrain started badly losing the first three wickets for just 22 runs by the eighth over and were soon 62 for five by the 22nd over.
But Arachchige and Dar steading the sinking ship by some bold batting. Arachchige made a patient 85-ball 47 (5 fours) while Dar was more attacking in making a fine 79 (88 balls, 9 fours, two six).
But both fell in the space of two runs and six balls.
However, Jabbar Amjad (11*, 10 balls, 2 four) and Muhammad Rafeh (28*, 11 balls, 1 four, 3 six) added 42 valuable runs for the unbroken eighth wicket to help Bahrain set up a challenging target.
Awais Malik (3-34) and Mohammed Nadeem (3-34) were the successful bowlers for Qatar.
Dar was impressive with the ball as well as Qatar began their chase and seemed on course to victory at the halfway stage as Tamoor Sajjad and Zaheer Ibrahim looked well set.
Earlier, opener Muhammad Tanveer (53, 52 balls, 7 four, 1 six) had given Qatar a positive start. But Dar struck thrice in succession to reduce Qatar to 94 for four by the 19th over.
Collapse
Sajjad (36, 47 balls, 2 four) and Ibrahim (22, 32 balls, 2 four) put Qatar back on track but another mini collapse put Bahrain back on top.
Qatar lost Sajjad and Ibrahim at the same score of 141 and lost two more wickets to be reduced to 146 for eight by the 31st over as Junaid Aziz struck twice and then dismissed the last man to return with impressive figures of three for 57 while Dar was even more impressive with three for 29 as Qatar were bundled out for 181 in 38.4 overs.
Bahrain take on Kuwait in their fourth match tomorrow.
Saudi Arabia top the table with three straight victories while Qatar are second, also with six points but having played a match more. Bahrain are on four points from three matches.
In the other matches yesterday Saudi Arabia beat Kuwait by four wickets and Thailand routed China, also by seven wickets.
This event is the Asian qualifying tournament and is the first step of the ladder for Associate and Affiliate members of the ICC as they strive for a place in the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2023 and beyond.