A Qatar batsman in action against Iran during the opening match of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) U-16 Elite Cup at the West End Park Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.
Hosts Qatar went down to Iran by 58 runs in the opening match of the ACC Under-16 Elite Cup cricket tournament, played at the West End Park Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.
More than the margin of victory, it was the big cricketing gulf between the two sides that came to the fore. The game was the first non-Asia Cup match in the ACC’s history to be played under floodlights at West End Park ground.
The venue, just two weeks earlier, had hosted an exhibition game between a World XI side led by West Indian legend Brian Lara and an Asia XI team captained by Sri Lankan Sanath Jayasuriya.
In Wednesday’s opening game, the young
Iranian cricketers looked the most excited playing under lights, perhaps for the first time in their careers.
“From where the Iranian boys come from, in Baluchistan, some of them don’t even have electricity,” said ACC Development Officer and former Pakistan spinner Iqbal Sikander.
Batting first after winning the toss in the 40-overs-a-side game, Iran were bowled out for 174 runs in 38.2 overs. Faisal Mihandoost scored 37 while man-of-the-match Vajid Bahoo made a quickfire unbeaten 32.
Qatar, in reply, were bowled out for 116 in 37.2 overs with Hamad Mirza waging a lone battle with a defiant 30.
Meanwhile in yesterday’s morning match, Afghanistan thrashed Iran by 10 wickets.
Brief scores
* Iran 174 in 38.2 overs (F Mihandoost 37, V Bahoo 32*, O Sayeed 49) beat Qatar 116 in 37.2 overs (H Mirza 30) by 58 runs
* Iran 26 all out in 14.4 overs (Y Zazai 6-9) lost to Afghanistan 27-0 in 4.2 overs by 10 wkts
