FAISAL KHAN LEADS SAUDI ARABIA TO SEMI-FINAL VICTORY AND PLACE IN PREMIER CUP

Today was the most important day of the year in ACC men’s cricket as the semi-finals of the T20 Challenger Cup were being held at TCG in Bangkok.

Saudi Arabia winners of Group A faced Japan.who finished second in Group B in the morning match while Singapore winners of Group B play Cambodia who were second in Group A in the afternoon.

The winners of both semi-finals would meet.in the final on Sunday and would qualify for the T20 version of the Premier Cup to be held in Oman in April.

It was Saudi Arabia who were victorious with an outstanding 10-wicket victory based on the bowling of Ishtiaq Ahmad and Usman Najeeb and the brutal power-hitting of Faisal Khan who bludgeoned 72 from 33 balls.

Saudi Arabia won the toss and elected to bowl first as they were back to full strength and were looking for early wickets from their formidable bowling attack.

It only took Ishtiaq Ahmad four balls to claim the first wicket as he bowled Lachlan Lake for nought. Japan captain Kendel Fleming came to the crease but the pressure was on with the first two overs bowled being maidens.

The first runs came in the third over but Fleming attempted an attacking shot only to be caught at third man for 1 with the score on 2 for 2.

Koji Abe struck two fours off Atif-ur-Rehman  in the fourth over but Ishtiaq was back for his third over and had figures  of 2 for 8. Japan had reached 24 for 2 after six overs.

Usman Najeeb and Hisham Shaikh were also tying Japan down and Najeeb demolished Lachlan Abe’s stumps as he was dismissed for 15. Japan were 29 for 3 after 8 overs.

Japan were 39 for 3 at the halfway mark and Hisham Shaikh completed his spell and introduced Waji and Abdul Waheed along with Najeeb Khalid.

Japan reached 72 for 5 after 15 overs  and Ishtiaq Ahmad returned to pick up his third wicket to finish with 3 for 15. Japan were hoping to reach 100 but Usman Najeeb claimed two wickets in two balls as he took 3 for 13 to restrict Japan to 97 for 8.

Saudi Arabia needed 98 to reach the final and qualify for the Premier Cup but started slowly before the runs began to flow. 16 runs off the third over, 13 off the fourth before 24 came off the fifth.

Saudi Arabia’s openers were giving a consummate display of power hitting. At the end of the powerplay Saudi Arabia had 73 for 0 with Abdul Waheed on 20 but it was Faisal Khan who lit up TCG as he reached his fifty from just 20 balls.

Saudi Arabia needed only nine overs to achieve their target of 98 as they won by 10 wickets to reach the final of the Challenger Cup and cement their place in the Premier Cup.

Faisal Khan has been brilliant as he hit 72 from 33 balls with 10 fours and 4:sixes. He is the leading run-scorer, the leading six-hitter and has the highest strike-rate in the tournament.

Usman Najeeb was awarded the player of the match by the umpires for his 3 for 13 but what a day for cricket in Saudi Arabia.