Kuwait Cricket

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Kuwait, Nepal, Malaysia and Qatar entered the semifinal HabibUllah again Man of the Match[Full Scorecard]
Kuwait, Nepal, Malaysia and Qatarall the seeded nations and the group winners in the league round entered the semifinal of the ACC U-19 Cup. The four were also the semifinalists in the last ACC U-19 Cup in Karachi, Pakistan. In semifinal, Nepal will play Kuwait at TU Ground while Qatar and Malaysia lock horns at Tundikhel. Habibullah Iftikar took three wickets and scored unbeaten 58 runs for Kuwait's two wicket win over Hong Kong in the quarterfinal at the Tundikhel Ground. Kuwait won the toss and invited Hong Kong to bat first. Hong Kong were restricted to 179/8 in allotted 50 overs. Kuwait lost wickets at regular intervals but Iftikar stick to an end to ensure a nervous two wicket win in 45.1 overs. Hong Kong's openers Robert Bacon and James Atkinson gave a good but slow start to Hong Kong. They had a century partnership. Robert scored 38 playing 107 balls while James was run out a run short of his half-century. His knock, the best for Hong Kong, was built in 92 balls with six fours. Courtney Kruger (28 off 44) was the other batsman to stand out whereas the lower order failed to get good runs for the team. Iftikar’s 10 overs cost him 41 runs. Kuwait didn’t match the start of Hong Kong and lost wickets at regular interval and had no big partnership. Iftikar played 76 balls and hit five boundaries for his 52. He was supported by Mubasshir Khalid (26), Ali Shehzad (25) and Yaser Idres (25). Despite going down to 166/8 from 159/4, Kuwait won the match to book the semifinal spot against hosts.[Full Scorecard]
Kuwait will now meet Hong Kong in the Quarter Final.
HabeebUllah Iftikhar Man of the Match
Kuwait v Iran : KUWAIT WON BY 302 RUNS Kuwait 364/9 (50 overs) (Haibullah. Iftikar 153, Ali Raza 50, Abdul Rehman 33; Ali Asgher of Iran took 3wkts in 7 overs for 67 runs) Iran 62 runs all out. Ali shahzad 5 for 21 runs, Habeeb Ullah 3 for 2, Sabtain Raza 2 Wkts. Man of the Match - Habibullah Iftikhar of Kuwait*
KUWAIT THRASHES UAE TO BOOK A BERTH IN TOP EIGHT Kuwait 12th Nov. 2005 (By: Riaz Chaudhry)
Kuwait Skipper Sabtain Raza Man of the Match against UAE
Kuwait qualified for quarter final of ACC Under-19 Cricket Cup after trashing UAE by 43 runs in match played Tribuvan University Ground in Kritipur , Nepal. It was second victory in as many games for Kuwait team in the league round. UAE after winning the toss put Kuwait into bat. Yasir Butt perished in very first over. At this stage Sibtain Raza joined Omar Salahuddin in the middle and both played very positive cricket to add 85 runs for the second wicket. UAE struck double blow by removing both these with the total 88 runs. Sibtain was more dominating partner scoring 47 off 60 balls including seven boundaries. Omar contributed valuable 30 off 63 balls and had four hits to the fence. At that stage Habibullah and Hamza Arif defied UAE attack and added 46 runs when the later was out for 36 off 34, aided with five fours. Habibullah continued to bat well to be the top scorer for Kuwait with 48 off 64. His innings had a six and four hits over the rope. The rear guard action came from Abdul Rehman Mani who played a praise worthy innings. His 44 came with the strike rate of 104% and he thrice dispatched the ball to the boundary. Kuwait was all out for 246 runs off the last ball of 50^th over. For UAE Wasim had three for 31 whereas Arora picked two for 29. Needing almost five runs an over UAE never appeared to be in the race. A run-out in the very first over rang the danger bell for UAE as they continued to lose the wickets at regular interval and actually never ever recovered from that early setback. Khizad Jenhangir fought the lone battle for UAE and top scored with 70 unbeaten runs though his innings was spread over 116 balls. His splendid knock contained a six and seven fours. None of the other batsmen rendered him any notable support. Complete command by Kuwaiti squad was evident by the fact that the captain could afford the luxury of using ten bowlers. Sibtain returned the amazing figures of three for 16 from 10 overs of which five were maiden. Abdul Rehman Mani, Yasir Butt, Ali Shehzad and Muzamil Khalid collected a scalp each. Three of UAE batsmen were run-out as the innings folded for 203 runs in 48.4 overs. Skipper of Kuwait team Sibtain Raza was named Man of the Match for his all round performance.
KUWAIT OVERPOWER AFGHANISTAN BY SEVEN WICKETS
Kuwait 10th Nov. 2005 (By: Riaz Chaudhry)
Kuwait started their bid for ACC Under-19 Cricket Cup on a winning note by defeating Afghanistan by wide margin of seven wickets at Tribhuvan University Ground in Kiritipur, Nepal.
Mubashir Khalid getting the Man of the Match Award
Kuwaits skipper Sibtain Raza won the toss and opted to field first, the decision paid off as Afghanistan were reduced to six for 81. But the seventh wicket partnership of 99 between Walizada and Hotak steadied the innings and gave respectability to the total. Once Ali Shehzad managed to break this partnership Afghanistan innings folded for 200 in 47.4 overs. Walizada, the top scorer, with 55 (five boundaries) and Hotak 39 (four boundaries) were the leading scorers for Afghanistan. Ali Shehzad sled the bowling honors for Kuwait with four for 30 and Abdul Rehman Mani with two for 18. Milinda, Sibtain, Habibullah and Mudasar also picked a wicket each. Omer Salahudin excelled in fielding by holding three magnificent catches. Replying Kuwait opened through Omer Salahudin and Yasir Butt but the later departed early after scoring quick 17 including a six and two hits to the fence. Omer also holed out when the total was 63. His score being well made 24 studded with five boundaries. From then onward Kuwait completely dominated the bowling as both Sibtain Raza and Mubasher Khalid smashed all the bowlers at will to all the corners of the ground. Sibtain was bowled when the victory was just in sight. He hit nine well-timed boundaries in his innings of 60 off 79 balls. Mubasher played more devastating knock as his unbeaten 77 came of just 63 deliveries. His swashbuckling innings contained four towering sixes and nine very well executed hits over the boundary rope. Kuwait achieved the required target with seven wickets in hand and 15.3 overs to spare. For Afghanistan Asghar got two for 43 and Walizada picked one wicket. Mubasher was adjudged Man of the Match for his master innings.