Saudi team reignite qualification hopes by beating Bhutan in T20 World Cup qualifier

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia registered their first victory in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier B as they beat Bhutan in Doha, Qatar, on Friday.

Saudi Arabia were dominant in all fronts as they overcame Bhutan’s challenge by a huge margin of 85 runs. Bhutan could only muster 85-8 in reply to Saudi’s 170-7 in 20 overs.

Bhutan invited Saudi Arabia to have a bat first at the West End Park International Cricket Stadium and the openers used it to their advantage. Abdul Waheed and Faisal Khan brought up a 50-run partnership in just 23 balls. Waheed, who hit 18 off 15, holed out to long on from the second ball of the sixth over.

Faisal, who hit Karma Dorji for 24 runs in the fourth over, then went boundary-less for the next nine balls and ultimately fell to Sagar Pradhan. He hit three fours and four sixes in his 20-ball-42.

Skipper Waji Ul Hassan then steadied the ship for Saudi Arabia as he stitched mini partnerships with Usman Khalid (14) and Manan Ali (12). While Waji kept the scoreboard ticking, his partners were slower than run-a-ball against Bhutan’s bowlers.

Player of the match Ul Hassan brought on his second T20 half century, hitting Dorji for a six and a four in the 16th over. He then followed one wide but hit straight to mid wicket. He ended scoring 52 runs off 39 balls with three fours and sixes each.

Zain Ul Abidin and Usman Najeeb hit a six each toward the end as Saudi reached the 170 mark.

In reply, Ishtiaq Ahmad rocked the top order of Bhutan with double blow. After giving away a single in his first over, he came back to take the wickets of Tenjin Ragbey and skipper Thinley Jamtsho in consecutive deliveries, both for nought.

Bhutan were soon reduced to 10-3 as Usman Najeeb hit Mikyo Dorji’s off stump.

Bhutan were 29-4 midway through their innings. But Jigme Singye’s 35 runs helped them to 85 runs in 20 overs. Singye, who hit four fours and sixes each in 41 balls, was run out in the last over. Ishtiaq and Usman took two wickets each, while Shahzaib, Zain Ul Abidin and Abdul Waheed got one each.

Despite Saudi Arabia losing the first two matches in the tournament, skipper Ul Hassan was hopeful of making it to the next round. “We didn’t achieve the expected result in the first two matches, but this win will help us. The tournament is long and we are hopeful of getting results to aid our target,” he said.

Saudi Arabia have left the bottom of the table with this win as they climb to fifth. UAE, who beat Cambodia by five wickets, have the maximum six points in three matches. Hosts Qatar and Thailand have four points each.

Bahrain are on level with Saudi while Bhutan and Cambodia are yet to open their account.

The top two teams from this qualifier will play the regional final, which serves as pathway for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup to be held in 2026.

Malaysia and Kuwait have already booked their spot from the Asia Group A qualifier, while Samoa and Japan are representing the East Asia-Pacific region. Nepal, Oman and Papua New Guinea will also compete in the regional finals.