CRICKET – A third consecutive half-century by Haider Butt proved not to be enough to prevent Bahrain from sliding to a shock 20-run defeat to Tanzania yesterday in their third and final Group B game of the 2024 International Cricket Council (ICC) Cricket World Cup Challenge League Play-off at the Selangor Turf Club in Kuala Lumpur.
Butt, who scored 98 and 53 in Bahrain’s first two games, scored a patient 51 off 92 balls after coming in with his side struggling at 48 for three in the 15th over in pursuit of a target of 174 in 50 overs.
After Bahrain had slumped further to 85 for five at the end of the 33rd over, Sachin Kumar joined Butt and the two added 31 runs off 6.1 overs with their teammates cheering every run on.
But, just when it seemed like the duo might be able to take Bahrain home, Tanzania medium-pacer Ally Kimote produced an amazing spell of bowling, prising out Kumar (16), Rizwan Butt (3) and Imran Javed Anwar (0) in the span of 10 deliveries.
Bahrain were now tottering at 124 for eight, still needing 50 runs off nine-and-a-half overs and with Butt left as their only hope.
But when he was run out 18 runs later in the 46th over, it was all over bar the shouting.
Earlier, Tanzania batted first after captain Abhik Patwa won the toss and looked on course for a big total after an 81-run opening stand between Patwa (28) and fellow opener Ivan Selemani.
After Kumar’s off-spin prised Patwa out in the 14th over, Selemani, who had been the aggressor in the opening stand, carried on striking the ball beautifully as Tanzania cruised to 133 for one in the 25th over.
But, in a most dramatic collapse, the African team lost nine wickets for just 40 runs in 14 overs, once Selemani fell for a fluent 70-ball 82 to left-arm spinner Abdul Majid Abbasi, to be bowled out for 173 in the 39th over.
Medium-pacer Ali Dawood was the pick of the Bahraini bowlers, taking three for 12 off 5.3 overs.
Despite the loss, Bahrain, who had already qualified for the Super Sixes stage, still head the four-team table with four points, ahead of Tanzania, who also have four points, because of net run-rate (NRR).
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