Kuwait v http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Saudi-Arabia-c3000 – Asian Cricket Council Trophy Elite 2012 (Group B) – Match Recap
A focused bowling attack, led by Ali Shahzad and Hisham Mirza, saw Kuwait effectively defending their total against Saudi Arabia, and going on to claim a massive 143-run win in their Group B match, during the ongoing Asian Cricket Council Trophy Elite 2012,
played at the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Imtiaz-Sheikh-c64290 Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, on October 9.
Kuwait won the toss and elected to bat first, and solid performances from the top and middle order allowed the team to post a solid final total of 318.
Openers http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Irfan-Ahsan-Kaleem-Bhatti-c64451 (64) and Abid Mushtaq (38) set up a substantial 92-run stand, which came to an end in the 12th over, with Mushtaq trapped lbw by Javaid Iqbal. Kashif Sharif (46), however, did not allow the team to slow down, setting up a
38-run stand with Bhatti, and after the latter’s dismissal at the hands of Mohammad Nadeem (10-0-41-2) in the 17th
over, teaming up with http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Hisham-Mirza-c63244 (16) for a 39-run partnership.
Mirza was sent packing by Mohammad Mohsin in the 26th over, followed soon after by Kashif http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Kuwait-c2935 were at 187 for 4 by the 31st over. However, the duo of
Sibtain Raza (32) and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mohammad-Amin-c76665 (59) did a superb job of reviving the team’s innings, establishing a 69-run stand for the 5th wicket, which got the team total up to 256 by the 43rd over.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Huzefa-Mohammed-Patel-c63657 (13*) ensured that the team’s performance remained strong until the end. Their 40-run partnership
only came to an end on the last delivery of the final over, with Akhunzada’s dismissal via run out, and Kuwait posted a final total of 318.
In response, Saudi Arabia failed to apply themselves at the crease, and with Player of the Match Ali Shahzad (7.3-2-25-4) and Hisham Mirza (3-1-10-3) on the prowl, were bowled for 175 by the 38th over of their innings.
Openers Mohammad http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sohail-c90628 (3) were both swept off the crease early by Ali Shahzad, and the only highlights of the innings were the performances of wicketkeeper batsman Syed Hassan (31), Mohammad Afzal (40), Ifthakar Ali (31), Mohammad Nadeem
(27), and Omar Zafar (22).
Between them, these batsmen managed three solid partnerships – a 46-run stand between Syed Hassan and Mohammad Afzal, a 37-run partnership for the fourth wicket between Ifthakar Ali and Mohammad Afzal, and a 47-run stand between http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mohammad-Nadeem-c77112 and Omar
Zafar.
However, these few contributions were not enough to save the team, and the lower order collapsed completely. Skipper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Abdul-Qadir-c41605 contributed 5 runs each before both were dismissed by Hisham Mirza, and with the final departure of Javaid
Iqbal (2) off Ali Shahzad in the 38th over, Saudi Arabia found themselves all out at 175, granting Kuwait a 143-run win.
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