CRICKET – Bahrain clinched the title in the Malaysia T20I Tri-Series, defeating Hong Kong by eight wickets in the final with 20 balls to spare.
The match was held at the Bayuemas Oval, and it was a fitting conclusion to an exciting tournament, with Bahrain’s all-round performance securing them the championship crown.
Imran Anwar was the star of the final, delivering a match-winning performance with both bat and ball.
Winning the toss, Hong Kong elected to bat first, hoping to set a challenging total. However, their innings was plagued by regular wickets and an inability to build substantial partnerships.
Anshy Rath top-scored with a fluent 44 off 32 balls, including three fours and two sixes, while Shahid Wasif (24) and Nasrulla Rana (19) provided a late flourish to take their team to a respectable total of 126 for five in 20 overs.
Bahrain’s bowlers were disciplined and effective, with Imran Anwar leading the charge. He claimed three wickets for just 19 runs in his four overs, dismantling Hong Kong’s top order. Abdul Majid also contributed with two wickets, while the rest of the bowlers kept the scoring in check, ensuring Hong Kong did not post an imposing total.
Bahrain’s chase was a masterclass in controlled aggression. Despite losing Asif Ali early for just one run, Prashant Kurup and Anwar steadied the innings with a solid partnership. Kurup scored a composed 33 off 33 balls, while Anwar played a match-winning knock of 61 not out off 51 balls, including three fours and four sixes.
Sohail Ahmed provided the finishing touches with a quickfire 24 off 15 balls, ensuring Bahrain reached the target in just 16.4 overs. Hong Kong’s bowlers struggled to contain the Bahrain batsmen, with only Anas Khan managing to pick up a wicket.
Bahrain’s comprehensive victory in the final was a fitting end to their campaign in the Malaysia T20I Tri-Series. Anwar’s all-round brilliance and the team’s collective effort ensured they lifted the trophy in style.
Hong Kong, despite their valiant efforts, fell short in the final hurdle but can take pride in their performances throughout the series.
“I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to our incredible Bahrain national cricket team for their outstanding performances on the international stage,” said Bahrain Cricket Federation chairman Mohammad Mansoor.
“Your dedication, hard work, and unwavering spirit have brought remarkable success across multiple tournaments.
“Winning in all the Four-Nations Tour, securing victory in the Triangular Series in Malaysia by defeating strong teams like Hong Kong and Malaysia, and achieving impressive results in bilateral series – 4-1 against Indonesia and 3-0 against Singapore – are remarkable achievements.
“Additionally, securing fourth place in the ICC CWC Division B in Hong Kong with crucial victories over Tanzania and Singapore, along with improving our T20I ranking to 25th, showcases the team’s growth and determination.
“I would like to commend Captain Ahmer bin Naise and team, our dedicated coaches – Prabhakar, Danny, Azeem, and our committed team manager Adel – for their hard work in guiding the team to these milestones.
“Special thanks to our sponsors STC, BFC, Kailash Parvat, LNS, Energia, Suha Group, YK Almoayyed, Mercedes, Bestune, VMB Group, and Barakat for their unwavering support to Bahrain cricket.
“To our passionate fans, your encouragement has been invaluable throughout this journey. Together, we celebrate these achievements and look forward to reaching even greater heights.
“Proud of Team Bahrain!”
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