CRICKET – Bahrain secured an impressive 32-run victory over Hong Kong yesterday in the ACC Men’s Premier Cup 2026 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The kingdom’s senior men’s cricket national team successfully defended a total of 210 as Ali Dawood claimed four wickets to help dismiss their opponents for 178.
Batting first, the Bahrainis recovered from a measured start to post 210/8 from their 50 overs, with Junaid Aziz and Ahmer Bin Nasir providing the backbone of the innings.
Bahrain managed only 24 runs during the opening powerplay and lost one wicket, before Aziz and Bin Nasir began rebuilding the innings.
The pair shared an important 50-run partnership from 90 balls, helping Bahrain move past 100 in the 37th over.
Aziz was the more aggressive of the two, scoring 47 from 60 deliveries, including four fours and two sixes.
Bin Nasir provided valuable support with 46 from 70 balls, striking four boundaries as Bahrain gradually built a platform for a competitive total.
After reaching 126/4 at the end of the second powerplay, Bahrain accelerated significantly during the closing stages.
They added 84 runs in the final 10 overs despite losing four wickets, passing 150 in the 43rd over and reaching 200 with three deliveries remaining.
That late surge lifted Bahrain to 210/8, leaving Hong Kong requiring 211 for victory.
Hong Kong’s chase quickly ran into trouble as Bahrain’s bowlers dominated the opening exchanges.
Three wickets fell during the first 10 overs as Hong Kong managed just 21 runs, before another dismissal left them struggling at 37/4 after 16 overs.
The early damage left Hong Kong with a considerable rebuilding job, but Kinchit Shah and Shahid Wasif led a determined recovery.
Hong Kong reached 50 in the 22nd over and eventually moved beyond 100 in the 33rd, with Shah and Wasif combining for a valuable 50-run partnership from 66 deliveries.
Wasif led the counterattack, reaching his half-century from 59 balls with five fours and two sixes, while Shah played the more patient role and later completed his own fifty from 84 deliveries, including three boundaries.
Their resistance brought Hong Kong back into contention, with the score progressing to 115/5 after 34 overs and then beyond 150 in the 41st.
Bahrain, however, regained control as the required scoring rate increased.
Dawood was the standout bowler, returning excellent figures of 4/21 from 9.3 overs at an economy rate of just 2.21.
His spell ensured Hong Kong were unable to complete their recovery as the chase eventually ended on 178 all out.
Dawood was later named Player of the Match.
The result completed a strong all-round performance from Bahrain, whose middle-order contributions and late acceleration gave their bowlers a defendable total before Dawood spearheaded the attack to seal a 32-run victory.
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