Debutants Kuwait off to flying start
Debutants Kuwait got off to a flying start at the Asian Cricket Council Trophy when they defeated Singapore by three wickets on Wednesday.
Kuwaiti captain Taher Bastaki had promised before the match that his team was not here to make up numbers and they proved him right as they successfully chased a total of 257 to finish on 260 for seven with an over to spare.
"This victory will give us more confidence and we are all set to win this tournament. I said before that we are the dark horses of the competition. It is our first international tournament and we are determined to win it," Bastaki said.
Kuwaiti-born Pakistanis Mohammed Nawaz led the onslaught with an accomplished 94 and received good support from Asif Ahmed (51) and Saud Qamar (60) as the Kuwait showed the other teams in Group A that have a batting line-up to fear.
Singapore totalled 257 for six in 50 overs with Andrew Scott leading the way with an unbeaten 108 off 152 balls and comprising five fours and two towering sixes. Skipper Johann Peiris hit 49 while Joshua Deering (26) and Kapila Mendis (24) chipped in with useful contributions.
Scott came into bat in the very first over when opener Manbir Singh was dismissed in the fourth ball. The right-handed batsman then figured in stands of 75 for the second wicket with Peiris, 61 for the third wicket with Deering and 51 for the fourth with Mendis.
But the Kuwaitis made light work of the run chase and were always inside the required run rate as they cruised to a comfortable win.
In the other Group A game, Hong Kong defeated Malaysia by 17 runs. Hong Kong electing to bat first were bowled out for 209.
Opener Saleem Malik got Hong Kong off to a cracking start when he smashed a scintillating 55 off 58 deliveries. Malik hit eight boundaries and a six as Hong Kong posted 84 runs in the first 15 overs.
But his dismissal at this stage, superbly caught and bowled by left-arm spinner Arul Suppian, saw the flow of runs dry. From 84 for three Hong Kong tumbled to 101 for six before captain Stewart Brew and Alex French re-built the innings with a patient stand of 84 for the seventh wicket.
Brew cautiously accumulated 59 before he tiredly holed out to deep mid-wicket with the score on 185. French followed soon after when he was bowled by Malaysian captain and fast bowler Suresh Navaratnam for 34 as Hong Kong quickly folded for 209.
Left-arm spinner Arul Suppiah took two for 34 while elder brother Vishnu Suppiah grabbed three for 32 and were chiefly responsible for Hong Kong's early collapse.
In reply Malaysia were bowled out for 192 wit Brew once again proving to be the thorn, taking three for 43. Yazid Imran top-scored fo Malaysia with 59.
Hosts United Arab Emirates had their work cut out as they squeezed past Nepal in a Group B encounter. Set to score 180, UAE got home with three balls to spare. Skipper Saeed Al Saffar was chiely responsible for the win. He took five for 41 in Nepal's total of 179 and then top-scored with 89.
Mail Cricket Editor
