Malaysia tour of Singapore

 

Malaysia sealed a series victory against Singapore today with a 5 wicket win in a rain curtailed game.

 

It was cut and thrust throughout the series.

 

The first game was won by Singapore, even though the Malaysian bowlers looked the strongest – especially Pavandeep Singh’s figures of 3-0-13-3. These would go on to be the tournament’s best returns for a bowler. Anwar Rahman only got the solitary wicket in the first fixture but would get 2-16 and 3-15 in the second and third matches to finish top of the wicket takers.

This theme of the losing team providing the most eye-catching performance continued into game 2 where Janak Prakash got the joint highest run total of the series as Singapore failed to chase down Malaysia’s highest total of the series – 177. His 56 was scored off 31 balls – 8 fewer than Syed Aziz managed in the first innings. Prakash ended the tournament as the highest overall run scorer with 99.

 

Singapore now turn their attention to a 4 match series versus Papua New Guinea whilst Malaysia set out on a quadrangular series alongside Bhutan, The Maldives and Thailand. All of these matches start on Saturday.

Sri Lankan Major Clubs Limited Over Tournament Update

With the Major Clubs T20 tournament now complete and in the hands of the Sri Lankan Army, it is time to go all over again for the 50 Over tournament.

 

Colts, who reached the quarter finals, of the T20 tournament have come straight out the traps equally as strongly. They chased down a meagre target of 153 set by Nondescripts in just 28.2 overs for a huge NRR boost to start with. On the other side of the group, the Sri Lankan Army continued their fine spell of white ball form and top the group early doors thanks to a 129 run over Kurunegala which propels them to the top of the table.

 

In terms of individual honours, Kasun Vidura – who only got above 50 once for for Chilaw in the T20 competition showed them what they were missing as he racked up 129 runs in their victory against Negombo. The victory was not as comfortable as it could have been as Negombo always seemed capable of chasing down 292 but fell 29 runs short in the end.

 

In terms of bowling success it is Lahiru Diyantha who, again showed good form in the 50 over game after a relatively low key T20 tournament. He got more wickets today than he did in the whole of the T20 leg combined with 5-24 for the Police Sports Club. Lamentably it did not mean that the Police prevailed, instead their batters fell to a limp chase of 100 – 97 runs short of their target.

 

Matches continue on Wednesday 

Merwais Nika Regional 3-Day Tournament Final Update

 

A last gasp quickfire 99* from Bilal Sayedi only gave Speen Ghar a sliver off hope, as Band-e-Amir pull of one hell of a heist and rob the Merwais Nika Regional 3-Day Trophy.

 

Sayedi is no slouch with the bat and was on the verge of a double tonne in the group stages, however being on the verge of a century in this match only eked out the inevitable as Band-e-Amir ran out winners by 26 runs.

 

18-year-old Asif Musazai scored 72 & 40 in the final for BEA and finishes the tournament with 594 runs – 234 more than anyone else. On the other side of the coin, Farhad Momand got 7 wickets in the match for Speen Ghar and ends 4 clear of anyone else with 20 @ 20.1. His 5-52 in BEA’s final innings was his best figures of the season.

 

 

Merwais Nika Regional 3-Day Trophy Final Update

 

I've been rather blind sided by the fact that the final of the Merwais Nika Regional 3-Day Trophy counterintuitively lasts 4 days.....which means that everything I've said up to this point is wrong. 

In terms of a result, it does still look like Band-e-Amir might still pull of a grand heist. They need to get 4 Speen Ghar wickets before the tail get 174. Speen Ghar were going well for their 4th wicket before they both threw away their wickets within 8 overs of each other. Akbar Musazai's 62 was the top scorer for the day. 

The game will conclude tomorrow on the fourth day of this three day game. 

Merwais Nika Regional 3-Day Trophy Final Update

 

Despite their weak start to the match yesterday, Band-e-Amir managed the unlikely task of that all important first innings lead as Speen Ghar only put on a further 47 runs and were all out for just 178.

 

Band-e-Amir also turned the screw by getting 50 runs more than their entire team managed for the loss of just 4 wickets. This sees them go into the final day as strong favourites with a 302 run lead.

 

They will be most indebted to Zubair Ahmadi whose century got them half way to their princely total and is likely to see BEA – who only won a single match on their way to the final – beat Speen Ghar who won 3 and drew 1.

Merwais Nika Regional 3-Day Trophy Final Update

 

Band-e-Amir were already up against it in their final against the undefeated Speen Ghar – but were even more bother at 45-6 in the 17^th over. Their real point of reckoning came in the 8^th and 9^th over where they lost three batters for the gain of no run. It was only by dint of two decent partnerships for the 7^th and 8^th wicket that saved BEA’s blushes – before they again lost a further two batters for no run. In the grand scheme of things they would have been happy with their score of 215 from 51.5 overs -  but in the case of a draw this match is decided on first innings total and 215 is nowhere near acceptable. This is especially the case when Speen Ghar are already within 100 of that total with 4 wickets in hand. Band-e-Amir will be hoping for an early collapse on Thursday morning.

 

The man of the moment for Speen Ghar was Umar Amin who bagged his second fivefer in as many games and was instrumental in BEA’s first innings humbling.

Merwais Nika Regional 3-Day Trophy Update

 

The final group stage round of games was completed today. Confirming the final for Wednesday as Speen Ghar vs Band-e-Amir.

 

There have been two rounds of games since our last update with an unprecedent 3 of those 4 games reaching a result. The most significant margin of victory was from the Amo vs Boost’s midweek game where Amo ran out 181 run winners of Boost. Boost finish the season winless and bottom of the table whilst for Amo it was their only win.

 

The most eye-catching game from this weekend’s round of fixtures was between Mis Ainak and Amo who both gave as good as they got with some stand out performances. Batting first Mis Ainak’s Naveed Obaid took the bull by the horns and put on 170 of the team’s total of 274. In a Bairstow-esque move of heavy hitting, he also did so at a strike rate of 145.55. However in Mis Ainak’s second essay it was an Amo bowler who put on good numbers with Bilal Sami’s figures of 25.5-4-80-7 being the finest figures of any bowler in this tournament. A fine way for both men to finish the tournament.

 

Both the leading wicket taker and the highest run scorer have a chance to swell their lead in the final as Band-e-Amir’s Asif Musazai (482 runs) will face up against the bowling of Speen Ghar’s Fitratullah Khawari (16 wickets) to see who will lift the trophy.

Sri Lanka Major Clubs T20 Tournament Update

 

After the Sri Lankan Army registered the highest margin of victory by runs yesterday, Colts’ 97 run victory over Tamil Union is the second highest. It is a significant win for Colts who swing to the top of the Group C with a huge NRR score of 2.324. The victory was courtesy of a score of 83 from Sangeeth Cooray in the Colts first innings total of 211-7. Cooray’s score, off 54 balls, is the third highest score of the tournament and sees the southpaw move to second in the tournament run charts. Akila Dananjay is also worthy of a mention as he got figures of 4-2, the best score for a Colts bowler this year.

 

The final round of group games starts tomorrow with all eyes on that three way tie at the top of Group C.   

Sri Lanka Major Clubs T20 Tournament Update

 

I have rather neglected this tournament over the last fortnight but one stunning victory by the standout team has drawn me back in.

 

Today the undefeated Sri Lankan Army beat Kalutara Town by a margin of 126 runs. After winning the toss and electing to bat, things did not seem overly rosy as they lost one of their openers for a duck, however Ashan Randika more than made up for it as his 63 ball 104 propelled his team to 215-3. This was the highest total of the tournament so far by the gulf of 44 runs. Ashan Randika is also now the highest run scorer in the tournament with 255 @ 51.

 

Kalutara’s Inshaka Siriwardena went wicketless today however registered the tournament’s second best figures against Galle last Sunday. His figures read 2-0-5-5. This propelled him to the top of the bowler’s league.

 

With just one more round of fixtures before the semi-finals Sri Lanka Army, Saracens and Colts are all fairly comfortable to progress. Group B is a little tastier with Burgher, Panadura and Ragama all tied on 6 points. This tension is further heightened by the fact that all 3 play against the other three teams in the group…so it is all to play for.

Merwais Nika Regional 3-Day Trophy Update

Both of this round’s matches ended in high scoring draws.

 

In the featured match between Mis Ainak and Boost, a century from Sediqallah Pacha got Mis Ainak to 460 at the point of their 70 overs; the highest of the tournament so far. From there on in it was always petering out to a draw. Sediqallah’s 132 from 159 balls was the highest total of the round and the third highest in the competition so far.

 

In the other game, Band-e-Amir will be the team that will be most put out at the draw as they excelled with both the bat and ball but Amo managed to hold on by the skin of their teeth. Asif Musazai got figures of 4-39 in the first innings, the fourth highest total so far in the tournament. He is having an outstanding tournament as he also scored 75 in the final innings to continue his fine spell of run scoring. He now has 356 runs in three games, 19 more than anyone else.

 

The draws most obviously effect leaders Speen Ghar who could extend their lead on Monday against Band-e-Amir.

Merwais Nika Regional 3-Day Trophy Featured Match Update

 

Jawid Sulimankhil got himself to the edge of a century and his team to near parity with Mis Ainak’s first innings total of 308. He was the second to last man out for Boost, throwing his wicket away with a run out as the 70 over mark loomed large.

 

Mis Ainak went to stumps on the penultimate day on 199-2. Some quick scoring will have to ensue tomorrow for them to force their agenda.

Merwais Nika Regional 3-Day Trophy Featured Match Update

 

This week’s featured Merwais Nika Regional 3-Day Trophy game sees two winless teams pitting off against each other in the forms of Mis Ainak and Boost Regions.

Mis Ainak won the toss and elected to bat first – a decision which they were probably pleased with by the end of their first innings as they were 308-8 after their 70 overs. This was largely thanks to a century from Rahman Zurmatia who got a slow and steady 108 off 129.

 

Things were looking even brighter for Mis Ainak when they managed to get 4 Boost wickets in the 30 overs of the reply who closed the day on 89-4.

Australia A Tour of Sri Lanka Update

 The A team series between Sri Lanka and Australia looks to be an opportunity for some failing ex-internationals to reassert their claims rather than a breeding ground for youth. 

This is best seen by the match winning performance that Cameron Green put in today. A veteran of 17 International caps across all three formats, Green has only recently been out of the frame for the full national team. His 111 ball 119 in Australia Australia chase of 297 would have maybe edged him a bit closer to that frame once more. 

This theme of experienced players forcing their agenda was continued across the board with Matt Renshaw (11 Tests) and Dhananjaya de Silva (121 national appearances!!!) also excelling with the bat.

Merwais Nika Regional 3-Day Trophy

 

The Merwais Nika Regional 3-Day Trophy started last week and completed it’s second found of fixtures today. So far it is a two horse race between Speen Ghar and Band-e-Amir Regions as to who has impressed the most.

Speen Ghar were 6 wicket winners today against Amo Region. Adding  this to their victory against Mis Ainak last week they have started the tournament in fine fettle. They have displayed their all round credentials as Bilal Sayedi’s 198 with the bat last week is the highest individual total and made up the highest total of the tournament so far – 381-6. They also have the highest wicket taker in the tournament in the form of Farhad Momand who has 13 @ 2-.92.

 

Band-e-Amir have also impressed. Asif Musazai had a fine outing for them in this week’s fixture as he scored 96 in the first innings and 111 in the second as they ran out winners against Mis Ainak. His 263 is the highest of any player. In Parvez Amin, they also have the best bowling figures in an innings – 6- 58.

 

Namibia Tour Of Hong Kong

 On paper Namibia's tour to Hong Kong should be something of a cake walk for the Namibians. The visitors sit 17th on the ODI rankings whilst Hong Kong do not even have that status yet. Furthermore Namibia didn't so much as hold their own in the World Cup....but they didn't sink as badly as they might. 

One of the stars of their World Cup campaign was the main architect of today's opening win. The spectacularly named Ruben Trumplemann plagued Hong Kong throughout their, already challenging, chase of 308. He got the first wicket with a mere 15 runs on the board, came back in his second spell to bag his brace and then finished off with 2 wickets in the death overs to polish Hong Kong off.

Unlike most tours of this nature, the games are rather spread out with the second on Thursday and the final a week from today. 

Sri Lanka Major Clubs T20 Tournament Update

 

A lot to report from today’s matches with honours with big performances all over the shop.

 

It has not been a batsmen’s tournament thus far – and this was seen in the game between the Sri Lankan Army and Moors. Despite the fact that Moors, Chataranga de Silva got the highest score so far this week (61) his team still ran out as the losers. It perhaps speaks to the low scoring nature of this tournament that Chataranga’s score of 61 is just the 8^th highest score overall. Sri Lanka Army are the last undefeated team standing – however three of their games have been washed out.

In another game where ball dominated bat, Badureliya got absolutely trounced by Ace Capital. After Ace had put 181 on the board in the first innings, they then went on to limit Badureliya to a mere 89. The 92 run victory is the largest margin of victory so far in the tournament. Chanika Devinda’s 3-12 was both the best figures in the match but also saw him take overall lead on the wicket taking charts.

 

Despite Devinda’s heroics, he did not have the best figures of the day. That honour goes to Hareena Buddila whose 4-12 helped Galle beat the Sri Lankan Army.

 

Despite Sinhalese’s game being washed out on Monday, Sheevon Daniel is still the highest run scorer.