Kuwait and Malaysia confirmed their places in the quarterfinals from Saturday’s results despite not playing any match on the day. With them, four teams have already qualified for the last eight- the other two teams being Nepal and Qatar.
On Saturday, Afghanistan thrashed Iran by 270 runs while Hong Kong defeated Maldives by 156 runs. Similarly, Singapore defeated Thailand by 45 runs. With the results, the winners have all kept alive hopes of reaching the quarterfinals and will play do-or-die matches on Sunday and Monday.
The winner of Bahrain v Brunei match to be played on Sunday will decide the other quarterfinalist from Group A.
Afghanistan v Iran, Group B
After a big win, Afghanistan is a point adrift UAE in table and the two teams will play the decisive match on Monday at Bhaktapur. Kuwait is safe with 11 points from two matches and will play lowly Iran on Sunday.
Afghanistan, the pre-tournament team to watch, suffered the shock on the first match against Kuwait but in the second they came big against Iran. Electing to bat first, they scored 315 runs in 38.3 overs and bowled out Iran for mere 45 runs in 21.3 overs.
After losing two early wickets, Afghanistan batted aggressively against weak Iranian bowling attack. Murad Ali and Gulbadeen Naib both scored 80s sharing a 129-run partnership for sixth wicket after Iran pegged them 129/5. Murad got 87 of 71 balls with seven fours and a six while Gulbadeen was even more aggressive hitting eight fours and four sixes for 82 runs in a 52-ball knock.
Izatullah Khan (44 off 25 balls, 6×4, 1×6), Sanullah Moheb (38 off 29, 5×4) and opener Sajed Khan (22 off 25) all got runs for Afghanistan. Abdul Bahab Ebrahim Pour got three wickets and Aref Baluch too got three giving away 75 runs in his 10 over.
Sanullah wrecked Iranian innings taking 5/17 while Asghar Hussain Hotak got 3/6 in his 2.3 overs to register a big win. Seven off Iranian batsmen failed to score while only two, Abdol Ghafar Bejarzehi (14) and Sajed (11) got double figure.
Singapore v Thailand, Group C
Singapore defeated Thailand by 45 runs to keep their hopes alive. They now meet Oman, also with five points, on Monday at TU Cricket Ground to decide the quarterfinalist behind Qatar. Qatar who are already safely the Group winner with 12 points meet Thailand on Sunday.
Singapore batted first after winning the toss and scored 142 runs in 49.3 overs and bowled out Thailand for 97 runs in 41 overs. Thailand, who were once 37/7 did well to save for a bonus point which they got denying the winner of it. They have now two points and no chance to qualify.
Mayank Daiakoti was chosen man of the match.
Hong Kong v Maldives, Group D
Hong Kong’s win meant they are now leveled with Saudi Arabia on points table with six points. They will vie for the spot in quarterfinal on Monday while group leader Malaysia (12 points) will take on Maldives on Sunday.
Electing to bat first, Hong Kong got 207/9 in allotted 50 overs at the Institute of Engineering Group. Although the batsmen didn’t scored much, they utilized 43 extra runs given by Maldives bowlers. In the second innings, Irfan Ahmed of Hong Kong took six wickets in 6 overs giving away five runs to end Maldives innings for 51 runs in 20 overs.
Nadeem Ahmed got three wickets while only one batsman, Safraz Jaleel (10) got double figure.
Earlier, Hong Kong top order played well with the openers adding 55 runs. Robert Bacon got 34 off 61 while James Atkinson got 18. Irfan Ahmed contributed with bat too scoring 34 runs in 55 balls while Courtney Keith Krugger got 32.