MALDIVES GET THIRD PLACE - Asian Cricket Council

Maldives beat China in the 3rd and 4th Playoff at Chiang Mai Gymkhana to clinch third place in the ACC U-19 Challenge Cup. Maldives dominated the match, winning by 155 runs. China were disciplined in the field but ultimately their fallibility against spin-bowling was again exposed.

Maldives won the toss and had no hesitation in batting. Mihusan Hamid and Husham Ibrahim put on 120 for the 2nd wicket in just under 23 overs; Mihusan made his 74 off 93 deliveries and Husham made his 70 off 71. They made an interesting contrast in style. Mihusan more studied and correct, Husham more flamboyant and powerful. Both hit on the up through the line and dispatched the loose ball well and took plenty of singles to disrupt the Chinese bowlers of whom Zhang Yufei was the pick with 3-52 off his ten overs. Both Mihusan and Husham benefited from let-offs early on and had the chances been held, such has been the fragility of the Maldives tail. China could have really kept the Maldives in check.

As it was, Maldives made 275 and it was always going to be very difficult for China. Particularly when they are rooted to the crease against spin-bowlers, particularly when Maldives have high-quality spinners.

Some good strokes were played but a stroke a campaign doesn't make and as soon as spin was introduced in the ninth over of the innings, China's batsmen were struggling. They play pace well undoubtedly, but not yet spin. Left-handed Zhao Xu drove one glorious soaring 6 over mid-on against Mihusan Hamid but it was Hamid who picked up five Chinese wickets with his tossed-up offspin and seven men around the bat.

China were all out for 120.

ACC U-19 Challenge Cup
Third and Fourth Place Playoff
China v Maldives at Gymkhna
MALDIVES BEAT CHINA BY 155 RUNS
Maldives won the toss and chose to bat
Maldives: 275 for 8 off 50 overs (M. Hamid 74, A. Hassan 30, H. Ibrahim 70; L. Jian 3-52)
China: 120 all out after 29.1 overs (M. Hamid 5-38)
Man of the Match: Mihusan Hamid (Maldives)

Source: asiancricket.org

MALDIVES SHUT OUT BHUTAN

When the Maldives were good they were very, very good, when they were bad they were very, very bad. Against Bhutan at the Prem Oval their good qualities – dynamic batting, aggressive bowling, sharp fielding – prevailed and they ran out winners by 21 runs.

Bhutan had their chances, many of them, but just couldn't close out the match. Bowling their overs a little slowly cost them dearly too, as chasing Maldives's 245, they only had 48 overs in which to do so.

A 128-run-partnership for the opening wicket between Maldives's captain Ahmed Hassan (76 off 111) and Jilwaz Rasheed (51 off 77) set up the Maldives but Bhutan dropped them both early on in their innings. Seven chances were missed in all and delaying the introduction of the spinners (as well as the 33 wides) not only allowed the batsmen to settle and play their shots with impunity on a hard, true surface but slowed down the over rate considerably. In-depth research by the ACC match referees has shown that regarding wides, dropped catches, lack of spin bowlers – the teams which overcome two of these handicaps tend to win.

The game was close and as it went on every action mattered.

Maldives gifted some late-innings wickets to Bhutan and whereas at one stage a total of 260 looked possible, they had to settle for 245. A little complacency cost them too, as they set out to defend what they felt was a big total. But Bhutan have match-savvy and in Manoj Adhikari their wicket-keeper opener, have a batsman of some quality. Plus, the Prem Oval has a lightning-fast outfield.

"We had chances to win," said Bhutan's coach Damber Singh Gurung. That they did. And though Maldives themselves bowled 50 wides, they bowled enough quality deliveries and fielded well enough to never allow the Bhutanese freedom any freedom. Bhutan managed just 13 fours in their innings, Maldives hit 29. Bhutan's captain Jigme Singye was run-out looking for 2, with the score on 123 in the 28th over and with the run-rate mounting, Manoj Adhikari who had batted with great composure fell to a super catch at deep-backward point trying to force the pace. The other batsmen all did their best but the catches and run-outs kept coming.

The Maldives really played well in patches and have shown that they have the batting and bowling to trouble any side. "It was our first ever international U-19 victory," said Samad Faiz the Maldives manager, "this will make big news back home."

ACC U-19 Challenge Cup
Bhutan v Maldives, Prem Oval
MALDIVES WON BY 21 RUNS
Bhutan won the toss and elected to field
Maldives: 245 for 8 off 50 overs (A.Hassan 76, J. Rasheed 51, M. Hamid 41; T.A. Wangchuk 3-38, S. Luitel 3-33)
Bhutan: 224 all out off 46.5 overs (M. Adhikari 64; J. Rasheed 3-40)
Man of the Match: Ahmed Hassan (Maldives)

Source: Asiancricket.org

QATAR CRUSH MALDIVES

Qatar raced to a seven-wicket victory over Maldives in the opening Group A match of the ACC U-15 Challenge Cup. The Maldives batsmen gifted the match to Qatar with some reckless strokes against the leg-spinner Ali Ishtiaq. From 44 for 1 in the 11th over the Maldives just collapsed.

Qatar didn't find it easy against Maldives' sbowlers in reply - they too opened with spin - but 63 was always achievable. The Maldives had an off day and can surely do better, Qatar have a valuable win in the bag.

Maldives v Qatar at AIT, Bangkok
QATAR WON BY SEVEN WICKETS
Maldives: 64 off 20.1 overs (A. Ishtiaq 5-9)
Qatar: 65 for 3 off 14.5 overs (F. Rauf 33*)
Man of the Match: Ali Ishtiaq (Qatar)

U-15 ACC Elite Age-Verification Program Results Issued

Source: Asia Cricket Council

Maldives became the first national cricket association in the world to host a blog

The Board of Control for Cricket in the Maldives became the first national cricket association in the world to host a blog on its official website, www.maldivescricket.blogspot.com. "The aim is to bring players, fans and stakeholders of Maldivian cricket together and to share in the development of cricket," says the website.

CCBM Vice-Chairman Ahmed Hassan Didi elaborates, "We are here together to develop cricket in the Maldives. Come with your ideas and queries Together we can make wonders for Maldives cricket. Your participation is our success. Come with your views and help us enjoy the game in the Maldives."

Broadband internet is the norm across the islands.

Source: Asian Cricket

Maldives cricket trip for Worcester Police

THE Worcester Police cricket team have returned from a ground-breaking first-ever tour of the Maldives.

The team were the first from any country other than Sri Lanka to play in the Indian Ocean island republic and they were very well-received by their hosts. They played five games and won two of them.

The Maldives have recently won the Asian Emerging Nations tournament and have some fine young players used to playing in hot conditions and on non-turf pitches.

All five games were played in the Maldives capital of Male, which is just three kilometres square but has a population approaching 100,000.

The team were taken to each game by speedboat from the island of Faro where they stayed and there was a five-minute break for prayers at noon.

While the police team's opening bowlers struggled to come to terms with temperatures in the mid nineties and the high standard of batting, Dave Bradley, Dave Price and Robin Longmore returned the best figures.

Man of the tour was opener Paul Gough, who hit a century and an unbeaten 83. Neil Fletcher also batted well and the rest chipped in when needed.

It was great experience for the players, wives, partners, and friends in the party of 33 that included 13 players.

The club was delighted to present a cheque for £1,000 to the Maldives Board for equipment, which will help towards the development of the younger players.

Results: Worcester Police v Cricket Control Board of Maldives (CCBM) CCBM 284-6, Worcester Police 201-9 (Neil Fletcher 57, Robin Longmore 51, Paul Gough 41). Worcester Police lost by 83 runs.

Worcester Police v CCBM Under 19s CCBM 191 all out (Robin Longmore 4-41, Dave Bradley 3-13).

Worcester Police 192-6 (Paul Gough 83 not out, Neil Fletcher 31). Worcester police won by four wickets.

Worcester Police v CCBM Chairman's Eleven CCBM Chair XI 248-7, Worcester Police 186-7 (Paul Gough 46, Graham Blomfield 36, Chris Holt 33). Worcester Police lost by 62 runs.

Worcester Police v CCBM Veterans Worcester Police 197-5 (Paul Gough 105 not out, Neil Fletcher 45, Graham Blomfield 32), CCBM Vetrans 110 all out (Dave Price 3-26, Steve wood 3 for 29). Worcester Police won by 66 runs Worcester Police v Maldives Police Maldives Police (257 all out) Dave Bradley 3-34, Robin Longmore 3 for 56 Worcester Police 164 all out. Worcester Police lost by 93 runs.

Source: Worcester News