CRICKET – Hong Kong defeated Bahrain in Super Over in match 5 of the ongoing Malaysia Tri-Nation T20I Series 2025 at the Bayuemas Oval in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
Winning the toss, Hong Kong elected to bat first. Their innings was anchored by Shahid Wasif, who scored a crucial 31 off 25 balls, and Zeeshan Ali, who provided a quickfire 29 off 18 balls at the top of the order. However, the middle order struggled to build momentum, with Yasim Murtaza contributing 19 and Nasrulla Rana remaining unbeaten on 14.
Bahrain’s bowlers kept things tight, with Abdul Majid being the standout performer, conceding just 10 runs in his four overs and picking up a wicket. Rizwan Butt and Ali Dawood also chipped in with two and one wicket, respectively, restricting Hong Kong to a modest total of 129 for seven in their 20 overs.
In response, Bahrain’s chase got off to a steady start, with Prashant Kurup scoring 31 off 37 balls. However, Yasim Murtaza’s brilliant spell of 3/18 in four overs turned the tide in Hong Kong’s favour. Ahmer Bin Nasir fought valiantly with a quick 36 off 24 balls, but his dismissal in the final over sealed Bahrain’s fate.
Imran Anwar’s late cameo of 18 off 15 balls kept Bahrain in the hunt, but they fell agonisingly short, finishing at 129/8 in their 20 overs. Hong Kong’s bowlers held their nerve, with Ateeq Iqbal and Ehsan Khan also contributing crucial wickets.
In the Super Over, Bahrain lost two wickets for 0 runs as Hong Kong needed just one run to win. Babar Hayat hit the winning run for Hong Kong.
Hong Kong’s disciplined bowling and Wasif’s crucial innings were the highlights of the match, securing them a hard-fought victory.
Bahrain, despite their valiant effort, will rue missed opportunities as they fell just short of the target.