A tense struggle between China and Myanmar in the last Group B match of the ACC U-15 Challenge at the Chiang Mai Gymkhana saw China prevail by 21 runs as they defended 134.

China were made to fight hard for their victory by a much improved Myanmar side compared to their earlier showings in the competition. Winning the toss, Myanmar's bowlers struck early. "There's always life in the first hour on this pitch," says the Gymkhana's venue manager Eric Little. Myanmar's Yan Naing and Aung Min Ko found it.

China's Cui Men Long is run out

China's Xin tries to beat Mynamar's Saw Phong Thet Paing's throw

Swing there was plenty and stray balls there were few. China's batsmen played and missed and edged plenty. The first four batsmen fell to Aung Min Ko's left-armers, as he hit a worrying length and forced the batsmen to play time and again at deliveries shaping away.

Myanmar hardly bowled a wide for the first hour but as Yan and Aung Min were seen off and the wicket became a little easier, from 44 for 5, China were able to slowly recover. If Myanamar could have introduced spin at this point, China would have really suffered. The last ten overs decided the match in China's favour. Myanmar's bowlers and fielders tired, China's fitter athletes scrambled singles, forced fumbles and punished anything loose of which there was increasingly more. Three chances were spurned with the score on 110 to 112. And the surviving batsmen, Zhong Wenyi in particular, took advantage as China's last three batsmen scored 42 runs. China finished on 134 for 8 off their 40 overs.

It was enough. But China didn't help themselves by bowling so many wides at the start. For Myanmar's first 50 runs, extras were more than 50% of the total. The batsmen played conservatively and revealed themselves to be some of the worst judges of runs seen this side of Inzamam and Mohammad Yousuf.

Myanmar's Nay Dwe falls

Had Myanmar's batsmen shown any urgency at the start they wouldn't have been under so much pressure at the end, Ismail, Min Hein Khant and Saw Phong Thet Paing swung hard but missed and found fielders far too often when a nudge here and there could have, would have, should have got Myanmar home. Though China held firm and fielded with zest they were gifting Myanmar wides and no-balls (42), missing run-outs (2) and dropping catches (4) but one moment of brilliance from their captain Du Jinlong turned the match in their favour. Du pounced at point to run-out his opposite number Min Hein Khant with a direct hit to the bowler's end and Myanmar's charge to the finish line was derailed.

Myanmar's Min Hein Khant is run-out

	Myanmar's Aung Min Ko

"Inexperience cost us," said Myanmar's coach Michael Moosajee at the end, that "and a lack of match practise." Yet for the first hour Myanmar had played very well. It had been the first match of the competition that had gone the full 80 overs and it showed that the playing standards of both sides improved considerably in the past week. The learning curve is steep but progress can be made quickly. Rashid Khan, China's coach said, "The boys learnt a lot today, they learnt to keep fighting and they learnt that fitness pays off. China can still get better."

China will meet Qatar in the semi-finals in Bangkok.

Some pictures courtesy Eric Little

China v Myanmar at Chiang Mai Gymkhana
CHINA WON BY 21 RUNS
Myanmar won the toss and elected to field
China: 134 for 8 off 40 overs (A.M. Ko 4-28)
Myanmar: 113 for 9 off 40 overs
Man of the Match: Aung Min Ko (Myanmar)

Scorecard

Filed December 12 2007