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BAHRAIN's young cricketers gave the kingdom a fitting present for the Islamic New Year by winning the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Under-19 Challenge Cup last week beating Thailand by five wickets in the final at the Prem Oval ground in Chang Mai, Thailand, writes GOPAL_NAMBIAR.
The Bahrain team which got off to a poor start in the tournament with two losses from three group games bounced back in style after being given a lifeline by the host team to finish on a high.
Having lost their group game against the Thai lads, the Bahrain youngsters extracted their revenge in the crunch match after beating favourites Kuwait in the semi-final by 13 runs.
Following this victory, Bahrain secured promotion to the ACC Under-19 Elite Division for 2011, as did Thailand after their nine-wicket victory over China in the other semi-final.
Bahrain's bowlers Maaz Zafar with 4 for 19 and Hardeep Singh 3 for 20 were instrumental in restricting the hosts to 100 all out in 36.1 overs.
Maaz was named Man-of-the-Match for his effort. In reply, Bahrain lost wickets at regular intervals but their batsmen did enough to reach the target in the 33rd over for the loss of five wickets.
National team coach Mohsin Kamal, a former Pakistan Test cricketer, said: "It took time for us to adjust but we peaked at the right time."
Team manager Mukhtar Butt also praised the whole-hearted approach of the boys for bouncing back after two defeats. The team members were congratulated by Bahrain Cricket Association president Saleem Elyas, general secretary Ayaj Gilani, development officer Prachur Shukla and assistant coach Azeem ul Haq.
The team was sponsored by Standard Chartered Bank and Al Noor International School.
Brief scores
Final: Thailand 100 all out off 36.1 overs (H Singh 3-20, M Zafar 4-19) lost to Bahrain 104 for 5 off 33 overs. Man-of-the-Match: Maaz Zafar (Bahrain).
Semi-final: Bahrain 191 all out in 44.4 overs (Cyrus D'Souza 48) bt Kuwait 178 all out in 28.5 overs (S Khalid 61; Sameer Minhas 3-29, C D'Souza 3-48) by 13 runs.
Man-of-the-Match: C D'Souza (Bahrain).
China 73 all out in 33.5 overs (Vichanath Singh 4-7, N Senamontree 3-7) lost to Thailand 74 for 1 in 16.1 overs (T Jeerapanthawong 35) by nine wickets.
Man-of-the-Match: V Singh (Thailand).
