2014 SAU Asia Cup Cricket
The 2014 SAU Asia Cup got under way over the weekend, with three matches involving cricketers from China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka.
Pakistan
China
Bangladesh
Internationals (Sri Lanka, Nepal, China, Pakistan)
The tournament will be played over three weekends, with four teams competing in a round robin format before the top two sides meet again in the final. All games are twenty overs.
The weekend’s games saw all four sides in action.
In the first game, China nearly caused a major upset, dismissing Pakistan for a very modest 93 inside 18 overs, but opening bowlers Saqib and Junaid ripped through the Chinese top order, taking three wickets apiece, and China could only limp to 77.
Saqib bowls to Jin Hui
Sunday morning brought Bangladesh into action against the Internationals.
Sri Lankan bowler Madush had the Bangladesh batsmen in all kinds of trouble with a fine opening burst, but the Bangladeshis, inspired by a fine innings from Shawn, recovered to a respectable 129.
Bangladesh pace bowler Rakid uproots opener Saurav’s middle stump
Opening paceman Rakib then ripped out both the Internationals openers, Pandu (Sri Lanka) and Saurav (Nepal), leaving his colleagues to mop up, as the Internationals subsided to 60 all out.
Sunday afternoon gave the Internationals a chance to redeem themselves against China. After his duck against Bangladesh, Pandu set about first resisting, and then dominating the Chinese bowling attack, compiling an impressive 102 out of his team’s 177.
Sri Lankan centurion: Pandu on his way to 102
The International side hoped to capitalize on their impressive total by removing the Chinese side cheaply, increasing their chances of qualification for the final on net run rate, should they win their remaining game, but China fought gamely, with former captain Jin Hui hitting 33, and teammate Zhang Jianyu adding a spirited 35, as they made 124 for nine.
|
SAU Asia Cup – Week 1 |
|
|
Played |
Won |
Lost |
Points |
|
Pakistan |
1 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
|
Bangladesh |
1 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
|
Internationals |
2 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
|
China |
2 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
Next weekend’s fixtures:
Saturday 20 Sept 1:30 pm Pakistan vs Internationals
Sunday 21 Sept 10 am Bangladesh vs China
1:30 pm Pakistan vs Bangladesh
Venue: SAU Cricket Field
