Kuwait qualified for quarter final of ACC Under-19 Cricket Cup after trashing UAE by 43 runs in match played Tribuvan University Ground in Kritipur , Nepal. It was second victory in as many games for Kuwait team in the league round. UAE after winning the toss put Kuwait into bat.
Yasir Butt perished in very first over. At this stage Sibtain Raza joined Omar Salahuddin in the middle and both played very positive cricket to add 85 runs for the second wicket. UAE struck double blow by removing both these with the total 88 runs. Sibtain was more dominating partner scoring 47 off 60 balls including seven boundaries. Omar contributed valuable 30 off 63 balls and had four hits to the fence. At that stage Habibullah and Hamza Arif defied UAE attack and added 46 runs when the later was out for 36 off 34, aided with five fours. Habibullah continued to bat well to be the top scorer for Kuwait with 48 off 64. His innings had a six and four hits over the rope. The rear guard action came from Abdul Rehman Mani who played a praise worthy innings. His 44 came with the strike rate of 104% and he thrice dispatched the ball to the boundary. Kuwait was all out for 246 runs off the last ball of 50th over.
For UAE Wasim had three for 31 whereas Arora picked two for 29.
Needing almost five runs an over UAE never appeared to be in the race. A run-out in the very first over rang the danger bell for UAE as they continued to lose the wickets at regular interval and actually never ever recovered from that early setback. Khizad Jenhangir fought the lone battle for UAE and top scored with 70 unbeaten runs though his innings was spread over 116 balls. His splendid knock contained a six and seven fours. None of the other batsmen rendered him any notable support. Complete command by Kuwaiti squad was evident by the fact that the captain could afford the luxury of using ten bowlers. Sibtain returned the amazing figures of three for 16 from 10 overs of which five were maiden. Abdul Rehman Mani, Yasir Butt, Ali Shehzad and Muzamil Khalid collected a scalp each. Three of UAE batsmen were run-out as the innings folded for 203 runs in 48.4 overs. Skipper of Kuwait team Sibtain Raza was named Man of the Match for his all round performance. |
