Saudi Arabia’s senior men’s cricket team showed strong batting performances in the Malaysia Quadrangular Series, but ultimately lost out to the brilliance of Virandeep Singh from Malaysia. The series has been an exciting three-day journey for the team, with two solid wins and a narrow defeat in the final match against Malaysia.
Saudi Arabia’s Strong Start in the Series
Saudi Arabia’s first match in the tournament saw them face Thailand. Although the team’s top order struggled, their lower order made up for it with solid contributions. They finished with 156 runs, a total that was too much for Thailand. The Thai team was bowled out for just 90 runs. Hisham Shaikh was the standout performer, taking 4 wickets for 15 runs. Zain Ul-Abidin also impressed with three wickets for 13 runs.
Dominating Performance Against Singapore
In their second match, Saudi Arabia’s openers Abdul Waheed and Faisal Khan set the stage on fire with their explosive batting. Waheed and Khan shared an outstanding 98-run partnership in just 8.3 overs, each hitting three sixes. Waheed scored 55 runs off 34 balls, while Khan made 62 runs from 28 balls. The team posted a total of 178 for eight in 20 overs.
However, Singapore’s batting crumbled quickly. Usman Khalid bowled a stunning spell, taking 3 wickets for 13 runs, and helped Saudi Arabia win the match by a massive 96-run margin. Singapore was bowled out for just 33 runs in their chase.
Nail-Biting Finish Against Malaysia
Saturday’s match between Saudi Arabia and Malaysia was highly anticipated, with both teams unbeaten in the series. Saudi Arabia’s openers, Waheed and Khan, again gave the team a quick start. They put on an 84-run partnership in just 7.3 overs. After Khan was dismissed for 48 runs from 25 balls, Waheed continued his strong performance and finished with 82 runs off 52 balls. The team posted a competitive total of 182 for seven.
However, Malaysia responded with a fast start of their own. Ghayour Ahmed’s first over in international cricket went for 21 runs, and Malaysia raced to 65 for one in just the first six overs. Saudi Arabia’s captain Waji Ul-Hassan took two important wickets to stem the run flow, but Malaysia’s Virandeep Singh remained a key figure in the match.
Virandeep Singh’s Heroic Performance
With 30 runs needed from the last two overs, Singh turned the game around for Malaysia. He hit a six off a no-ball and guided his team home with a match-winning knock of 93* from 57 balls. Singh’s innings included eight boundaries and four sixes. His earlier spell with the ball, where he took 4 wickets for 26 runs, also played a crucial role in restricting Saudi Arabia to under 200 runs.
What’s Next for Saudi Arabia?
Saudi Arabia now heads into the second round of matches, where they will face Malaysia again in the group stage. Given the form of both teams, fans can expect another exciting encounter in the coming days. If both teams maintain their current performances, they are likely to meet again in the final, promising an intense finish to the series.
