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That's it from me, Rajarshi, and my friend and co-commentator Sooryanarayanan, as we close out the coverage for the first of the two Asia Cup Qualifier matches today. In just over an hour's time, Hong Kong and UAE go up against each other in what can be defined as a three-horse race, with Kuwait, the third horse, having smashed Singapore with 73 balls left in the chase, comfortably placed on the top of the table. The equation - UAE need to win by 56 runs or 40 balls to beat Kuwait for the qualification spot. As for Hong Kong, all they need to do is win the game to book an Asia Cup berth for themselves. Do join us as Pragadeesh and Sudheervar bring you the coverage for the same, from us, it's goodbye!
Yasin Patel is the Player of the Match for his magnificent returns of 4/22. Here's what he has to say: Thanks to the Almighty. When I started in the Powerplay, it was good to bowl on. It gripped in the wicket and it was nice to bowl on. Ravindra Jadeja is my role model. The way he bowls with the arm, I observe how he bowls and get inspired by him. The captain always backs me and gives me confidence. He always tells me 'you will do it'. Everyone fielded well and we batted well too. Hopefully we get a chance (to qualify).
Mohammed Aslam, Kuwait captain: This is a great win. When we came here, we were the weakest team of the lot. Ended on a good position, and now we wait and see the next match! What we planned, it happened here. I advised my main bowlers to keep the correct line and length to get them all out. We also needed to not leak runs as well. My bowlers, especially Yasin, did really well. End of the day, we got the chance to win! We planned to finish the game in 10 overs, Raviju and Monib played very well, we said among ourselves that losing wickets won't be a problem, but we need to chase this before the 10 overs. We are watching the next game now, a little bit of hope is there, we'll see what happens!
Amjad Mahboob (Singapore Captain): Definitely wasn't a good score to defend. Credit goes to Kuwait - they outclassed us in all departments starting with the bowling and fielding, and then the batting also. We are a young side - lot of guys under 20. We will learn from this. I just told them to bowl in the right areas and let them do whatever they want to do. While batting it was on the slower side but we have to learn how to play on such wickets.
Match summary: Singapore won the toss and opted to bat
Singapore 104 all out (19.5 Overs) Janak Prakash 29(33) | Yasin Patel 4/22 (4)
A total of 10 sixes were smashed within the span of 47 deliveries! Every single Kuwait batter walked out with fire in their belly, Sandaruwan set the tone having taken 10 off the first over itself, Meet Bhavsar perished the next over to Baskaran's left-arm spin, but not before depositing him into the stands on the leg-side on a couple of occasions! Edson Silva and Usman Patel failed to get going, both of them went to ungainly slogs to Baskaran, and Kuwait were feeling a tinge of pressure as Sayed Monib walked in looking rather laidback, strapping his left glove up while meeting his partner in the middle.
Monib's laidback bod-language merely was a sign of the carnage that was to follow, it was as if depositing spin bowling into the stands repeatedly on a tricky surface was a cinch for him! It took him just two overs to get his team past the line, as he absolutely obliterated the spin of young Akshay Puri and then Vinoth Baskaran! He finished with a blockbuster 10-ball 32, and Kuwait, by virtue of this victory, are in the driver's seat in terms of Asia cup Qualification!
WHAT A RUN-CHASE! Kuwait have done more than what they could have to secure the Asia Cup berth, and their destiny lies on one more game! Kuwait are top of the table now with a NRR 1.63, miles above both Hong Kong and UAE!
8.0
7.5 Vinoth Baskaran to Sayed Monib, THAT'LL BE ALL! KUWAIT STAY ALIVE! A touch short on middle and leg and Monib looks to seal it in grand fashion. He can only hack it along the carpet to deep mid-wicket though as the batters cross over but that'll do quite well for Kuwait. My word, they have absolutely annihilated Singapore today and have left the UAE way behind on net run-rate. Boy, doesn't this spice things up!
7.4 Vinoth Baskaran to Sayed Monib, SIX AGAIN! THE SCORES ARE LEVEL! Dropped short on off stump, Monib rocks back and clobbers it high and mighty over cow corner. The boundary rider remains a spectator as he watches it sail over!
7.3 Vinoth Baskaran to Sayed Monib, skids off a length on middle and leg, Monib clears his front leg but is rapped on the pads as he plays all around his whip.
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Al Amerat Cricket Ground Oman Cricket (Ministry Turf 1), Al Amarat
