Cricket: Qatar secures dramatic win over Kuwait

MUSCAT: Qatar beat Kuwait in a Super Over eliminator after the score were tied at 155 runs in what was a clash of the toughest teams in ACC T20 Western Region championship at Amerat’s turf grounds on Tuesday.
In the day’s other game, Saudi Arabia defeated winless Maldives by 6 wickets, registering its first victory of the tournament after two straight losses to Bahrain and Qatar. Bahrain and Qatar are now the only undefeated teams in the five-nation tournament with two wins from as many games so far.
Today’s action will see Kuwait take on in-form Bahrain on OC Turf Two and look for a vital win to stay alive in the championship. On OC Turf One, Maldives will play its last game against Qatar.
Having scored the required 6 runs off the first three balls, Qatar owed its Super Over victory against Kuwait yesterday to a superb over by Iqbal Hussain who restricted Kuwait to only five runs, laying the foundation for a comfortable win after the teams’ 20-over clash ended in a stalemate.
Muhammed Tanveer’s 53 not out and Faisal Javed’s 25 were the highlights of Qatar’s total of 155 for 6. Kuwait couldn’t do any better and had to settle for 155 for 8 in its quota of 20 overs, Muhammed Kashif (53), Meet Bhavsar (38) and Muhammed Asghar (35) being its main scorers.
Brief scores: Qatar 155 for 6 in 20 overs (Muhammed Tanveer 53 not out – 4x4, 4x6, Faisal Javed 25 – 2x4, 1x6, Taimoor Sajjad 19 – 2x4. Imran Ali 3-26) tied with Kuwait 155 for 8 in 20 overs (Muhammed Kashif 53 – 4x4, 2x6, Meet Bhavsar 38 – 3x4, 1x6, Muhammed Asghar 35 – 5x4, 1x6).
First win for Saudi Arabia
Riding on Ibrarul haq’s brilliant all-round performance, Saudi Arabia secured an easy 6-wicket win over Maldives yesterday. Rishwan Mohammed’s great form with the bat continued with yet another half-century (67 off 54). Ibrar claimed three wickets while Abdul Wahid took two for Qatar.
Saudi raced to the target in just 17 overs, scoring 14 for 7 thanks to Ibrar’s whirlwind 49 off 23 and Muhammed Nadeem’s 43 off 30.
Brief scores: Maldives 139 for 7 in 20 overs (Rishwan Mohammed 67 – 6x4, 3x6, Muawiath Andul Ghani 19 – 3x4. Ibrarul Haq 3-28, Abdul Wahid 2-21) lost to Saudi Arabia 140 for 4 in 17 overs (Ibrarul Haq 49 – 5x4, 3x6, Muhammed Nadeem 43 – 7x4, 1x6. Ibrahim Hassan 2-26) by 6 wickets.