In a thrilling conclusion to the Men’s T20 World Cup Asia Sub-regional Qualifier A, Malaysia and Kuwait have clinched their places in the regional final for the 2025 World Cup. The decisive matches on the final morning of the tournament saw Malaysia’s commanding victory over Mongolia and an interrupted clash between Hong Kong China and Kuwait, which left the latter advancing by default.
Malaysia’s commanding victory over Mongolia
Malaysia’s performance against Mongolia was nothing short of dominant. Choosing to bowl first, Malaysian skipper Syed Aziz witnessed his bowlers restrict Mongolia to a meagre 31 runs in just 17 overs. Rizwan Haider set the tone by dismissing Nyambaatar Naranbaatar for a duck, while Virandeep Singh delivered an exceptional spell, claiming 4 for 5 and dismantling the Mongolian batting lineup.
Mohan Vivekanandan was the only Mongolian batsman to reach double figures, contributing 8 runs before falling to a catch behind the stumps. In response, Malaysia’s chase was swift and decisive, with Aziz leading the charge, smashing 31 runs off just 11 balls to guide his team to victory in only 2.1 overs.
Kuwait advances after abandoned match
Meanwhile, the much-anticipated clash between Hong Kong China and Kuwait was abruptly halted after just four overs of Kuwait’s innings due to unforeseen circumstances. At the point of abandonment, Kuwait was at 11 for 2, with key players Ravija Sandaruwan and Meet Bhavsar already back in the pavilion.
Despite the interruption, Kuwait’s earlier performances in the tournament ensured their progression to the next round. Hong Kong China had batted first, posting a total of 139/8. Despite a strong finish from their lower order, including an impressive 42 from Babar Hayat, their innings faltered as they lost wickets at regular intervals. Kuwait’s chase, however, was interrupted before it could gain momentum, but their advancement to the regional final remained intact.
Singapore ends tournament on high note
In other fixtures, Singapore concluded their campaign with a decisive win over Myanmar. Putting Myanmar to bat, Singapore’s bowlers, led by Harsha Bharadwaj, dismissed their opponents for a mere 15 runs. Bharadwaj’s exceptional performance, claiming 4 for 8, was crucial in dismantling Myanmar’s batting. Singapore’s chase was swift, with Will Simpson and Rahul Sheshadri guiding their team to victory in just 4.4 overs. The win provided a fitting end to Singapore’s tournament, though it was not enough to secure a place in the final.
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