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Boys in maroon shock Saudi Arabia by five wickets to win qualifying championship and make ICC World Cricket League for the first time
Agencies
Chiang Mai (Thailand)
It was a historic day in cricket for Qatar on Monday as their national team trounced Saudi Arabia by five wickets at the David Buck Oval at Prem International School in Chiang Mai to win the ICC World Cricket League Qualifier Asia and claim a place in the sport's main global structure for the first time.
Saudi Arabia had won their first five matches while Qatar had lost to Bahrain to be two points behind their rivals and the Saudis also had a considerable advantage on the net run-rate. The boys in maroon, however, came up with an inspired show to turn the tables on their neighbours and emerge winners.
Both Qatar and Saudi Arabia finished with 10 points from six matches each but Qatar ended with a better net run rate of +2.665 against Saudi Arabia's + 2.472.
The triumph has taken Qatar to Division Five ICC World Cricket League which has eight teams Italy, Guernsey, Jersey, Vanuatu, Cayman Islands and Ghana besides Qatar. The eighth team from Europe is yet to be determined. The next tournament is scheduled for South Africa in September, 2018.
Qatar shot out Saudi Arabia for 94 and despite having lost their first four wickets for only 24 runs, while chasing the target, scored the runs needed in just 18.1 overs to win the match by five wickets and the tournament on net run-rate.
Saudi Arabia finished second level with Qatar on 10 points. Bahrain finished third with eight points while Kuwait finished fourth with six points.
Qatar captain Inam-ul-Haq was overwhelmed at his team's achievement."It's a dream come true as we have been thinking for a long time about playing cricket at a higher level. Luck was on our side as Saudi Arabia chose to bat first when we wanted to bowl. This gave us a great opportunity and the team did their job," he exclaimed.
The captain, who had to retire hurt while batting suffering from cramps, said it had been difficult to stay fit in the energy-sapping weather.
"We got the job done even though we normally play only once a week but we hope to have more regular cricket in the future," said the skipper.
Inam-ul-Haq has played 15 years of first-class cricket in Pakistan and has also represented his country in the Under-19 World Cup.
He also paid tribute to the man-of-the-match Tamoor Sajjad and to left-arm spinner Mohammad Nadeem, who emerged as the bowler of the tournament with 20 wickets.
With the decision to bat first, Saudi made Qatar smile as it also allowed them to know how well to chase the target given the fight for better net run-rate.
Much to their luck, paceman Awais Malik struck with the third ball of the match trapping Abdul Waheed lbw for nought. Saudi soon lost their second wicket at the score of 16 before Malik struck again getting Shahbaz Rasheed caught at second slip. Worse followed they Saudis lost opener Inayat Saeed (caught at mid-off by Inam) to Mohammad Tanveer and were reduced to 22 for 4 in 9.3 overs.
Mohammad Afzal (22 runs) and Mohsin Shabbir (23) staged a brief recovery with a 31-run stand for the fifth wicket. Spinner Nadeem then swung into action scalping Afzal and the Saudi slide resumed. They were soon bowled out in 43.3 overs.
Qatar needed 94 for victory but had to achieve the target in less than 25 overs to win the tournament.
They suffered early setbacks losing Kamran Khan for nought and Muhammad Tanveer and Qalandar Khan for a run each. At 10 for 3, Qatar were on the backfoot and were in deep trouble when captain Inam was forced to retire.
At 65 for 5 in 13.2 overs, it seemed to be anybody's game but Sajjad (28 n.o.; 26 balls, 2x4, 1x6), Zaheer Ibrahim (25 off 27; 5x4) and Dharmang Patel (15 no,o off 18; 3x4) ensured a famous and memorable triumph for Qatar.
All seven teams benefited greatly from more than a week of competitive cricket and all will be hoping for further opportunities but it will be champions Qatar who will progress to Division Five of the ICC World Cricket League.
Scoreboard
Saudi Arabia
Abdul Waheed lbw b Awais Malik 0
Inayat Saeed c Inam-ul-Haq b M Tanveer 17
Shoaib Ali c M Rizwan b M Tanveer 2
Shahbaz Rasheed c Iqbal Hussian b Malik 1
Mohd Afzal st Mohd Rizlan b Mohd Nadeem 22
Mohsin Shabbir st Rizlan b Inam 23
Imran Arif c & b Mohd Nadeem 5
Omar Imtiaz c & b Mohd Nadeem 5
Nadeem Javed b Inam 9
Ibraul Haq b Inam 1
Hammad Saeed not out 2
Extras: (nb2, w4, b1) 7
Total: (All Out in 43.3 overs) 94
Fall of wkts: 1-0(0.3 overs), 2-13(5.4), 3-22(8.4), 4-22(9.3), 5-55(22.6), 6-61(24.1), 7-74(30.6), 8-85(37.4), 9-87(39.6), 10-94(43.3).
Bowling: Awais Malik 8-3-15-2, Muhammad Tanveer 7-3-11-2, Kamran Khan 3-0-15-0, Iqbal Hussain 8-2-23-0, Mohammed Nadeem 8.1-2-11-3, Tamoor Sajjad 2.5-0-8-0.
Qatar (Target 95 in 24 overs)
Kamran Khan b Ibraul Haq 0
Qalandar Khan lbw b Iraul Haq 1
Muhammad Tanveer lbw b Imran Arif 1
Inam-ul-Haq retired 4
Mohd Rizlan c Inayat Saeed b Iraul Haq 8
Tamoor Sajjad not out 28
Zaheer Ibrahim b Imran Arif 25
Dharmand Patel not out 15
Extras: (w8, lb6) 14
Total: (For 5 wkts, 18.1 overs) 96
Fall of wkts: 1-0(0.3 over), 2-6(1.2), 3-10(2.2), 4-24(6.3), 5-65(13.2).
Bowling: Ibraul Haq 6-0-26-3, Imran Arif 6-1-30-2, Hammad Saeed 2.1-0-15-0, Shoaib Ali 2-0-11-0, Mohammad Afzal 2-0-8-0.
Result: Qatar won by five wickets.
Man of the Match: Tamoor Sajjad (QAT).
Bowler of the Tournament: Mohammad Nadeem (QAT).
