A FINE all-round performance by Haider Butt led Bahrain to a 109-run win over Vanuatu in their opening Group B match of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Cricket World Cup Challenge League Play-off at the YSD-UKM Cricket Oval in Bangi, Malaysia, yesterday.
The right-hander first smashed a belligerent 105-ball 98 as Bahrain racked up a total of 266 for seven in their 50 overs and then returned impressive figures of two for 14 off seven overs with his off-spin as Vanuatu were bundled out for 157 in 48.1 overs.
Coming in to bat at number five after Bahrain, who had been put in to bat by Vanuatu skipper Joshua Rasu, slumped to 63 for three in the 15th over, Butt hit 10 fours and three sixes as he dominated a 65-run fourth-wicket partnership with captain Sohail Ahmed (34) before adding 106 runs for the fifth wicket with Ahmer bin Nasir (46).
Needing 267 to win, Vanuatu collapsed to 40 for three in the 14th over before Rasu (27) and Ronald Tari combined for a 31-run partnership in nine overs.
After Rasu retired hurt at 71 for three, Butt sprang into action with the ball, accounting for Tari, caught behind by wicketkeeper Shahbaz Badar for 24, before having Patrick Matautaava stumped by Badar for two as Vanuatu slid to 101 for five.
Soon, they were 126 for eight in the 43rd over, leaving number 10 Andrew Mansale to smack a 32-ball 30 and reduce their eventual margin of defeat.
Butt was declared the player-of-the-match.
Bahrain will play hosts Malaysia today in their second game.
Scores: Bahrain 266 for seven off 50 overs (Haider Butt 98, Ahmer bin Nasir 46, Nalin Nipiko 5/43) beat Vanuatu 157 all out in 48.1 overs (Andrew Mansale 30, Joshua Rasu 27, Haider Butt 2/14) by 109 runs.
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