The Hindu : Controversy mars Malaysia's victory

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jul 16, 2002

Sport

Sport - Cricket

Controversy mars Malaysia's victory

Singapore July 15. Malaysia took an outright lead in Group B of the ACC Trophy cricket tournament here on Sunday with a controversial one-wicket victory over Hong Kong which took the jury two hours to resolve.

A scoring error had led both teams to believe the game was tied when the last Malaysian wicket fell on the penultimate ball with the scores level at 159.

When a check of the score sheets revealed Malaysia had been denied a run, Hong Kong appealed that the initial result should stand.

``At the end of the 49th over the teams were told the score was 159 each and the last Malaysian wicket fell on the fifth ball,'' tournament official and jury member Anil Kalaver said.

``There were four dot balls then the wicket fell. Both teams shook hands and thought overall it was a fair outcome, but then a check through the score sheets found the discrepancy in the 44th over.''

Hong Kong's appeal was eventually dismissed on the grounds the final result rested on a thorough check of the score sheet for accuracy.

In Group A, defending champion United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Nepal remain unbeaten after two matches and are scheduled to meet on Tuesday.

Khuram Khan again set the UAE on the path to victory with his second century in as many matches as the defending champion raced to a 166-run win over Kuwait.

Coming in at 76 for three, Khan shared in a 134-run partnership with Atif Ali on his way to scoring 113. Ali contributed 40 as UAE raced to 289 for nine off their 50 overs.

An incredible spell of bowling from Arshad Ali then ripped the Kuwait batting apart as he took five for 10 and the innings ended in the 42nd over with Kuwait all out for 123.

Nepal maintained its unbeaten record with a 130-run win over debutantes Qatar.

Batting first, Nepal was all out for 210 after 48 overs, With Shakti Gauchan heading the batting honours with a well-compiled 53.

The Qatari batsmen never looked capable of achieving the target, and appeared mesmerised by Mahaboob Alam who ripped through the top order and finished with five for 24 off six overs.

Qatar's reply ended in the 36th over, all out for 80 with the best performance being a 15 not out by Ammenullah Khan. — AFP

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