Exactly 12 months away from the opening game of ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2020, the Qualifier tournament has begun on Friday (18th October). The UAE is hosting this entire Qualifier tournament.
The tournament has started with a stunning thrilling victory from Singapore against Scotland in the Group A encounter. Meanwhile, the Netherlands beat Kenya by 30 runs in the same Group A.
In the Group B matches, Ireland beat Hong Kong and Oman defeated the hosts UAE.
(Group A)
Singapore stunned Scotland in a thrilling encounter
Scotland decided to field first after winning the toss and started in a great way as Singapore were down to 7/2. But the opener Surendran Chandramohan’s 51 runs and good middle-order batting helped Singapore to manage the challenging first innings total of 168/6 (20 overs).
In reply, Scotland openers George Munsey and Kyle Coetzer (captain) provided a good start with 70 runs partnership. While Munsey scored 46 runs, Coetzer scored 38 runs. Also, Calum MacLeod scored crucial 44 runs but the middle-order collapse in a late moment put Scotland in trouble.
In the final over of that match, Scotland needed eight runs while they had four wickets in hands. Scotland lost three wickets in the last four balls and only managed five runs in that over. Finally, Scotland managed to score 166/9 (20 overs) as Singapore won by two runs. While Scotland had to score five runs in the final ball, they only managed to score two runs along with a run-out.
Selladore Vijayakumar won Player of the Match award after managing the incredible match-winning bowling figures of 4-0-16-3.
The Netherlands beat Kenya by 30 runs
The Netherlands totally dominated Kenya and clinched the 30 runs victory. After winning the toss, the Dutch posted the first innings total of 166/4 (20 overs). Opener Max O’Dowd scored 53 runs while all other batsmen reached the 20 runs mark in that innings, except Ryan ten Doeschate (3 runs).
In reply, only Collins Obuya (63 runs) and Rakep Patel (26 runs) reached the 20 runs mark in Kenya innings. At the end of the 20 overs, Kenya scored 136/8. The right-arm pacer Paul van Meekeren was the best bowler of the match with the bowling figures of 4-0-27-3.
(Group B)
Irish batsmen guided to the easy victory against Hong Kong
After winning the toss, Kinchit Shah’s 79 runs helped Hong Kong to manage the first innings total of 153/5 (20 overs). Haroon Arshad (20 runs) was the only other batsman in that innings to reach the 20-run mark.
In reply, opener Kevin O’Brien (0) was run-out in the first over without facing a ball. However, another opener Paul Stirling (62 runs) and the no.3 batsman Andy Balbirnie (70 not out) made the chase easier for Ireland. Ireland chased down that target in 17.2 overs after losing just two wickets, They won this match by eight wickets with 16 balls remaining.
Oman claimed easy victory after the hosts UAE’s batting failure
After winning the toss, Oman restricted the hosts UAE to 108/9 (20 overs). Only Rohan Mustafa (24 runs) and Muhammad Usman (27 runs) reached the 20-run mark in that innings. Two new ball bowlers Bilal Khan (3/23) and Fayyaz Butt (3/16) both picked up three wickets.
Chasing down that target, Oman lost three wickets before reached the target in 18.2 overs. Aqib Ilyas inspired to that comfortable chasing after remaining unbeaten on 45 runs. Oman has started this tournament with a seven-wicket victory (with 10 balls remaining).