10 February 2024
Malaysia win by 2 runs despite amazing Aizaz’s 89
By Jay Dasinghani
Malaysia added another trophy to their cabinet as their skipper Virandeep Singh defended seven runs off the final over to seal a 2-1 victory in the bilateral One Day series.
Chasing a DLS adjusted target of 269 in just 39 overs, Hong Kong China started well as Anshy Rath regularly found boundaries, propelling the home side to 50 for no loss after six overs.
Left-armer Wafiq Irfan, however, turned the game in Malaysia’s favour, dismissing both Rath and skipper Nizakat Khan, who was caught in the slips.
Virandeep took his first of two wickets, trapping Martin Coetzee in front for 18 to further peg back the opposition.
Aizaz walked in at five and dominated a 102-run stand with Babar to bring Hong Kong China back into the game. He was in merciless form, pumping both Khizar Hayat and Vijay Unni over long on for two of his five maximums.
Even after Amir Azim took a spectacular diving catch to send him packing, Nasrulla Rana continued to keep Hong Kong China in the game.
Virandeep, however, held his cool, dismissing Rana who was caught by Wafiq Irfan at short third to leave the home side with four needed off the last ball.
Unfortunately for the hosts, Daniel Pascoe could only manage a single as the visitors celebrated another close victory.
Pascoe, however, deserves a special mention for a tight spell in the first innings, where he picked up two wickets, including the huge scalp of Sharvin Muniandy. Yasim Murtaza proved virtually unplayable, conceding a mere 15 runs in his nine overs while taking the wicket of Syed Aziz.
Yet, with a procession of boundaries into the leg side and over the keeper, it was Ahmad Faiz who stole the headlines with a match-winning 76 off 48.
Brief Scores:
Malaysia 230/5 in 39 Overs (Faiz 76*, Virandeep 63, Daniel Pascoe 2-29) beat Hong Kong China 266/8 in 39 Overs (Aizaz Khan 89, Babar Hayat 47, Wafiq Irfan 4-66, Virandeep 2-43) by 2 runs (DLS Target of 269)