Inam-Ul-Haq turned in a skipper’s performance (one wicket and 73 not out) and guided Qatar to a resounding eight-wicket triumph over Maldives in the ACC Western Region Twenty20 Cricket Tournament yesterday.
This was the third win in a row for Qatar, the only unbeaten side in the five-team tournament. Besides hitting the top of the table, the winners are close to ensuring their place in the final, to be held today.
Batting first in Muscat, Maldives, winless in the five-tournament so far, were limited by Mohamed Awais Malik and Tamoor Sajjad to 134 for nine. Qatar raced to the target inside 15 overs with the captain guiding the team home through a splendid 121-run second wicket partnership with Kamran Khan.
Qatar Cricket Association President Yousef Jeham al-Kuwari lauded the team for clinching the third victory: “Congratulations to the whole squad on the third triumph. We are all proud of the way you are playing in Muscat. Keep up your good work and focus on each match.”
Maldives had a good start and reached 44 before losing opener Adam Nasif Umar (27 off 12 balls with three sixes and a four) to Malik, who got another wicket four runs later when he dismissed Rishwan Mohamed (1).
Hassan Ahmed and Hassan Haziq Rasheed appeared to be stablising Maldives. However at 85 in the 12th over, the latter got out in bizarre fashion for 16. He was ruled out for obstructing a fielder and at this juncture, Qatar began tightening the screws further.
Malik and Sajjad bowled well to remove four more players, while Ul-Haq also grabbed a wicket. Sajjad got rid of top-scorer Ahmed, having him brilliantly stumped by Mohamed Rizlan Iqbar. He hit a six and three fours to get 53 off 45 balls. Mohammed Nadeem also played an important role in helping Qatar choke Maldives. He did not get a wicket but his four overs cost only 16 runs with 13 dot balls.
Qatar’s chase suffered a quick setback with opener Faisal Javed Khan getting out for five. But captain Ul-Haq and Khan did not let the Maldives bowler trouble them. They collected 121 runs off 70 balls to set up the third win for their team with plenty to spare. Khan hammered five sixes and a four in his 30-ball 42, while Ul-Haq finished unbeaten on 73. His 50-delivery knock contained two sixes and 10 fours, which secured him the man-of-the-match award. Mohammed Tanveer was other not out batsman with eight.
Brief scores
Qatar beat Maldives by eight wickets
Maldives: 134 for nine in 20 overs (Adam Nasif 27, Ahmed Hassan 53, Tamoor Sajjad 3/28, Awais Malik 3/19, Inam-Ul-Haq 1/26)
Qatar: 135 for two in 14.5 overs (Inam-Ul-Haq 73 not out, Kamran Khan 42;
Ibrahim Hassan 1/25, Hassan Ahmed 1/8)
Man of the match: Inam-Ul-Haq (Qatar)
Qatar captain Inam-Ul-Haq (left) receives his man-of-the-match award.
