15 August 2006

SINGAPORE LIONIZE BAHRAIN

Bahrain v Singapore at Bayuemas

SINGAPORE WON BY 86 RUNS

Canny batting was the difference between the two sides when Singapore beat Bahrain by 86 runs in their ACC Trophy opener at the Bayuemas Oval.

The Singapore innings was founded upon a 170-run partnership between their captain Chaminda Ruwan and Munish Arora. Both of them played adroitly in the initial stages, weathering the pace of Shafeeq Ahmed and Mohammed Kabeer and the spinners through the innings. It was a master-class in run-manufacturing and both batsmen played with immense assurance. Good balls were blocked and anything else was stroked for runs.

Once they had the measure of a tiring attack, the Singapore batsmen opened out to ht 86 runs off the last 10 overs. Chaminda Ruwan fell to a good catch at mid-off from a skimming drive for 89 (119 balls). Arora stayed on to post his century off 117 deliveries, hitting eight 4s and two 6s. Buddhika Mendis made merry with three 6s in his 29-ball 30.

Bahrain’s batsmen played too many shots in chasing 256 and couldn’t gain any sort of momentum. Tahir Dar’s innings at No. 5 was emblematic as he made 26 off 13 deliveries (off just five scoring shots, two 4s and three 6s) before slamming a drive back to Chaminda Ruwan. It was a big wicket. From being well up with the rate at 76 for 2 after 14 overs, Bahrain kept batsmen at regular intervals to tamely subside to 170 all out in the 38th over.

Bahrain v Singapore at Bayuemas, August 15th 206
Toss: Singapore
SINGAPORE WON BY 86 RUNS
Singapore: 256 for 4
(C.Ruwan 93, M.Arora 108B.Mendis 30*)
Bahrain: 170 in 37.4 overs (M. Ashraf 45; S. Razzak 3-34; B. Mendis 3-24)
Man of the Match: Munish Arora (Singapore)

Points: Singapore 2 points, Bahrain 0 points