BANGKOK: Saudi Arabia on Monday completed their third successive victory in the ACC T20 Men’s Challenger Cup by beating Indonesia by 82 runs in Bangkok to claim a place in the semifinals as winners of Group A.
Saudi Arabia won the toss and elected to bat. Faisal Khan was back for Saudi Arabia, while Haseeb Ghafoor was rested along with Usman Najeeb.
After a quiet first over, Khan hit the first boundary over the bowler’s head and he followed with a six over deep mid-wicket as 12 came from the second over. He hit another boundary in the third over and Abdul Waheed hit the biggest six so far as the ball sailed over the sight screen and out of the ground. Forty runs were up in four overs.
Waheed had become the leading run scorer in the tournament and he hit a six and four to take Saudi Arabia to 67 at the end of the powerplay, before being stumped for 32 from 23 balls.
3/3 wins and into the SEMI-FINALS!
FT! #TeamSaudi beats Indonesia by 82 Runs in the 3rd match of the #ACCMensChallengerCup!
Congratulations #SACF | #SaudiCricket | #ACC pic.twitter.com/oRJFC8YXAE
— الاتحاد السعودي للكريكيت | Saudi Cricket (@cricketsaudi) February 5, 2024
Khan reached his 50 from 35 balls, but his strike rate dropped in the second half of the innings and he was dropped a total of three times. Waqar Ul Hassan, Manan Ali and Waji Ul Hassan all hit out strongly as 61 came from the last five overs.
Saudi Arabia made 185 for four in their 20 overs.
Padmarkar Surve had been promoted to open the innings as Indonesia’s most experienced player who had made 63 against Saudi Arabia in last year’s 50-over competition, but Atif-ur-Rehman had him caught at fine leg for just one so Indonesia were struggling from the start of their innings.
Indonesia lost their second wicket in the fifth over as Shahzaib bowled Ferdinando Banunaek for naught in his first over in international cricket. Anjar Tadarus reached double figures 2/2, but he was caught behind from Hisham Shaikh’s first ball and Indonesia were 20 for three after the first six overs.
Left-arm spinner Usman Khalid has been introduced for Saudi Arabia and he was looking for more wickets after taking four for six against Bhutan, but it was Waheed who took the fourth wicket in the 10th over as Indonesia slumped to 31 for four at the halfway stage.
Indonesia had to try to get as close to the 100 mark to maintain their net run rate, and Saudi Arabia were looking for an early finish to complete their third victory.
Indonesia ended the match on 103 for nine in 20 overs and the Greens took the win by 82 runs to win Group A, with Khan named player of the match on a triumphant return to the team.
Saudi Arabia will face the second-placed team from Group B in the semifinals on Friday.
