Bahrain Beat Myanmar by 8 Wickets — Abdul Majid's Hat-Trick Seals a Third Straight Win

For 15 overs Myanmar did what underdogs are supposed to do. They lost early wickets, regrouped, and with Pyae Phyo Wai and Khin Aye batting together they reached 61 for 3. It wasn't a big score, but it had a shape to it, and there was time left to make it a competitive one.

Then came the 16th, 17th and 18th overs, and Myanmar lost six wickets for six runs. The last three went to Abdul Majid in three balls. Bahrain won by 8 wickets, with 52 balls remaining.

The striking thing about Bahrain's bowling was how little their attack gave away even before the collapse. Ali Dawood's three overs cost five runs. Asif Javed's two cost six. Shujaat Rasool bowled four overs for eight and took two wickets. Asif Shaikh conceded 13 from four. Only two extras were bowled in the whole innings. Myanmar had to work for every run, and when the pressure finally told, it told all at once.

Rasool did the damage with the bat too. He opened with Prashant Kurup and hit 22 from 13 balls with a six, and the pair had 39 on the board in 4.3 overs. Myanmar's bowlers took two wickets in six balls to stop the rush, but Ahmer Bin Nasir and Junaid Aziz saw Bahrain home without further loss. Three games, three wins: Thailand, Bhutan by 66 runs, and now Myanmar.

At 23 for 3 after five overs, Myanmar were in trouble. Pyae Phyo Wai and Khin Aye then batted for more than ten overs together and added 38. It wasn't quick, at 23 off 41 and 15 off 34, but against an attack this tight it was a real effort. They were building towards a total around 90, which would have tested Bahrain.

Majid's return turned that plan upside down. Once Pyae Phyo Wai was caught by Rasool at 61, the lower order had no answer. Five of the last six batters made two runs or fewer. With the ball, Pyae Phyo Wai and Kaung Htet Kyaw each took a wicket, a sign that this attack can compete. The batting needs one more partnership to go with the one that came so close here.

Bahrain chose to field at the Selangor Turf Club and the pitch suited bowlers who hit the stumps. Six of Myanmar's nine wickets were bowled and one was lbw. Scoring was hard all morning, with Myanmar going at 3.5 an over. Bahrain's chase, at 6.4 an over, showed it got easier as the day went on, or perhaps simply that Bahrain's top order was better equipped to deal with it.

Majid's first two wickets were the important ones. He bowled Ko Ko Lin Thu, who had already hit a four and a six, in the fifth over, and in the 16th he had Pyae Phyo Wai caught by Rasool to break the stand that was holding the innings together. Then came the 18th over. Nay Lin Htike was bowled, Nyein Cham Soe was bowled first ball, and Aung Ko Ko was lbw first ball. That was a hat-trick, and with it 67 for 5 became 67 for 8.

Four overs, five wickets, 25 runs. Four of the five were bowled or lbw, which tells you he was attacking the stumps the whole time.

CricIntel did not publish a preview for this match, so there is no prediction to review.

Bahrain and Kuwait are both on six points from three matches in Qualifier A, with Kuwait ahead on net run rate (+5.884 to +2.156). They meet on October 9 at the YSD-UKM Cricket Oval in Bangi, and the winner will be the only unbeaten side left in the group. Bhutan (four points) are third.

Myanmar, without a point after two games, play Qatar on October 9 at the Selangor Turf Club. Qatar are on two points from two matches, so it is a game Myanmar can target.