Malaysia got their 1st win in ACC Premier Cup 2023 by defeating Saudi Arabia by 8 wickets. Malaysia won the toss and decided to ball first. This decision proves right, as Saudi got all out scoring just 153 runs. Malaysia comfortably chased the target and won the match by 8 wickets. By this Malaysia has won their 1st match in this ACC Men’s Premier Cup.
1st Innings: Saudi Arabia got all out
Saudi Arabia lost the toss and were asked to bat first against Malaysia at the upper Mulpani Cricket Ground. The team struggled with their batting and were all out for 153 runs in 46.2 overs. Opener Abdul Wahid scored 36 runs off 72 balls with 2 fours, while wicketkeeper Haseeb Ghafoor scored 40 runs off 78 balls with 4 fours and 1 six.
However, the rest of the batting order failed to make a significant contribution. Atif ur Rehman was unbeaten on 18 runs off 31 balls with 3 fours. For the last wicket, Rahman and Ghafoor shared a respectable total of 44 runs.
Fast bowler Wafiq Ifran dismissed opener Walker-ul-Hasan lbw for two on the fifth ball of the first over. Another fast bowler Rizwan Haider caught Imran Arif for five runs in the fifth ball of the fourth over. Saad Khan was caught out by Anwar Rizwan for one run on Rizwan’s ball. Then, the spinner made the Saudis go down. Mohammad Hasan Sheikh was caught out by Virandeep for 21 runs on spinner Anwar Rahman. Abdul Manan Ali was bowled out by Rahman for 5 runs. Spinner Khizar Hayat dismissed Abdul Waheed lbw. Zainul Abideen was dismissed lbw for 5 runs. Abdul Wahid was bowled by Hayat.
Khizar Hayat of Malaysia took 3 wickets in 10 overs with 1 maiden at the expense of 13 runs. Virandeep Singh took 1 wicket with 1 maiden in 10 overs for 26 runs. Mohammad Wafiq took 2 wickets for 22 runs in 4.2 overs. Rizwan Haider took 2 wickets for 25 runs in 6 overs. Anwar Rahman took 2 wickets with 1 maiden in 9 overs for 40 runs.
2nd Inning: Malaysia got their 1st win in ACC Premier Cup 2023
Chasing a target of 154 runs for victory, Malaysia finished losing 2 wickets in 21.2 overs, with opener Virandeep Singh and Mohammad Amir’s half-centuries contributing to Malaysia’s win. Virandeep Singh was dismissed for 51 runs off 53 balls with 8 fours, while Mohammad Amir contributed the highest 56 runs off 44 balls with 12 fours.
For the first wicket, Amir and Virandeep shared 82 runs in 11.2 overs. Zain ul Abideen of Saudi Arabia took two wickets, but other bowlers could not take wickets.
ACC Premier Cup and the Road to the Asia Cup
The ACC Premier Cup features Group A, which includes the home team Nepal, along with Oman, Qatar, Malaysia, and Saudi Arabia, and Group B, which consists of UAE, Hong Kong, Kuwait, Singapore, and Bahrain.
Malaysia had previously lost their first match against Nepal by 6 wickets but managed to secure a comfortable win against Saudi Arabia. The team will play against Oman at the Mulpan Ground on Sunday.
The team that wins the title through the semifinals and finals of the tournament will be allowed to play in the Asia Cup in Pakistan next September. In the Asia Cup, Group A will consist of India, Pakistan, and the winner of the Premier Cup, while Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Sri Lanka are in Group B.
Saudi Arabia will play their second match on Saturday against Qatar at TU ground.
