Estonia v Portugal at Corfu – European Championship Division Two Twenty20 (7th place play-off) – Match Update
Despite putting in a mediocre batting effort, Portugal managed to clinch 7th place in the recently concluded 2012 European Championship Division Two Twenty20, after beating Estonia by 31 runs during the 7th place play-off at Maessonghi in Corfu
on September 8.
Portugal won the toss and elected to bat first, opening their innings with http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Syed-Tariq-Aziz-c92380 (15), but their partnership did not proceed beyond 24 runs. Vineeth Govind (4-0-17-3) stepped in to break up the duo, sending Tariq Aziz back to the
pavilion, and Nadeem Butt soon followed suit, off Nand Lal Riar.
A slew of disappointing batting performances – in the form of wicketkeeper batsman Rizwan Khaliq (7), Jose Pais (4), and Intesab Medhi (1) – followed, but the team’s innings were steadied by Bilal Safdar (21) and Khalil Izaz (49), who set up a 48-run 6th-wicket
stand.
Sivalingham Arunachalam (4-0-33-3) bought the partnership to an end, sending Safdar back to the pavilion, but Khalil Izaz managed to resist for longer, going on to establish a 28-run partnership with Muhammad Mirza (22*), before Arunachalam claimed him for
his second victim of the day.
Mirza teamed up with Nadeem Nazar (17), and both batsmen contributed a combined 39 runs to the team total, and Portugal posted a final total of 164 by the end of 20 overs.
Estonia’s innings got off to a stronger start than Portugal’s, but their batting order lacked depth, and as the dismissals grew, the runs diminished, with Lakhbir Kensrey (4-0-23-2), Nadeem Nazar (4-0-29-2), and Khalil Izaz (4-0-20-2) on the prowl.
Moshiur Rahman (47) and Remo Raud (17) got Estonia off to a promising start, with a 65-run opening stand. However, the first four wickets fell in quick succession – Rahman was bowled by Medhi, Raud sent packing by Khalil Izaz, and Kensrey took both Riar
(15) and skipper Tim Heath (0) out of the game.
Murali Obili (18) remained the only other batsman to register a double-digit score, while the remaining batsmen – Sasha Ruut (5), Arunachalam (0), http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Michael-Stuart-Tiffin-c76221 (3*), and wicketkeeper batsman Marko Vaik (1*) – failed to make any notable contributions. Estonia
eventually found themselves cut off at 133 by the end of 20 overs – 31 runs short of their target.
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