Bhutan v Saudi Arabia – Asian Cricket Council Trophy Elite 2012 (9th Place Play-off) – Match Update
A focused all-round effort by Saudi Arabia enabled them to keep Bhutan at bay, and secure a 7-wicket win in the 9th place play-off of the ongoing Asian Cricket Council Trophy Elite 2012, played at the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/ICC-World-Cup-2011-c100625 Global Cricket Academy Ground No 2 in
Dubai, today on October 10.
Saudi Arabia won the toss and decided to field first, with Mohammad Ramzan (8-1-38-4) and Javaid Iqbal (10-1-30-3) ensuring that Bhutan were kept down to 165, all out, by the end of 37 overs, with only 4 batsmen managing to reach double figures.
Opener Tshering Dorji was dismissed on 4 by Javaid Iqbal in the 3rd over – however, Bikash Luitel (20) and Sonam Tobgay (30) attempted to bring the innings back on track, setting up a 32-run stand for the second wicket. Omar http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sohail-c90628 succeeded in
dislodging Luitel in the 9th over, and followed it up by running out Bhutan skipper Jigme Singye (5) in the 15th over.
Tobgay went on to set up a 22-run partnership with Suprit http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mohammad-Ramzan-c77198 intervened in the 19th over to take Tobgay out of the game, and what followed was the highest partnership on Bhutan’s side
– a 45-run stand for the 5th wicket, between Pradhan and Thinley Jamtsho (12).
The 30th over saw Mohammad Ramzan sending both batsmen back to the pavilion, and the remainder of the batting order was unable to maintain the same momentum. Kencho Norbu was run out on duck by Ifthakar Ali, and Phuntsho Wangdi managed 8 before
he was caught and bowled by Mohammad Ramzan.
Lobzang Yonten and Barun Wakhley scored 6 runs each before both were dismissed by Javaid Iqbal, and by the 37th over, Bhutan were cut off, all out, at 165.
The chase posed no difficulties for http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Saudi-Arabia-c3000, who were easily able to reach 170 within 22 overs, with just 3 wickets down.
Skipper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Nadeem-Al-Nadwi-c78393 (53) and Javaid Iqbal (32) opened the innings for their side, setting up a steady partnership of 77 runs. Bhutan skipper Singye got rid of his Saudi Arabian counterpart in the 8th over, and Ifthakar Ali (5) followed him
off the crease in the very next over, caught out by Wangdi off Tobgay.
Javaid Iqbal stuck it out at the crease long enough for a 27-run stand with Player of the Match http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mohammad-Afzal-c76591 (59*), after which the former was sent back to the pavilion by Kumar Subba in the 14th over. However, by this point Saudi Arabia had
reached 111, and lost no more wickets, with http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mohammad-Nadeem-c77112 (14*) teaming up for an unbeaten 59-run stand.
Their combined efforts easily got Saudi Arabia up to 170, with 7 wickets and 168 balls remaining, allowing them to clinch 9th place in the ongoing tournament.
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