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Belgium beat Malta by 42 runs
Omid Malik Khel 45 (25) | Waqas Raja 2/17 Darshit Patankar 20 (11) | Eldhose Mathew 2/21
A comprehensive victory for Belgium in the 13th match of the competition as they successfully defended their score of 141. After a good powerplay, scoring 30 off the first 3 overs, Malta kept falling behind the eight ball and kept stuttering. The big shots were few and far between in the context of the game and eventually, it was a 42 run victory for Belgium.
Basil George and Samuel Stanilaus struck a few impressive shots but couldn’t quite get their side off to a blazing start. Malta desperately needed a big powerplay but they could only muster 30. They would have been hoping to get the big shots going but they kept staring down the barrel, with wickets at regular intervals.
Darshit Patankar struck a few lusty blows and scored 20 off 11 deliveries before his departure. The run-chase never really took off and the scoreboard pressure kept piling. None of the batters could get the big shots on a consistent basis. Bilal Khan scored a quickfire 15 off just 5 deliveries towards the last few overs but by then the game was done and dusted.
Earlier it was Malta who won the toss and opted to field. Belgium got off to a shacky start but the batters managed to press on the accelerator after the powerplay. Omid Malik Khel was the top-scorer for Belgium 45(25) but the much-needed late impetus was provided by Sherry Butt, scoring a blistering 30 off just 8 deliveries. For Malta, Eldhose Mathew was the pick of the bowlers, bagging a couple for just 21 runs.
10
overs
99/5score
1
1
1
1
6
6
runs
Gaurav Maithani
5(7)
Bilal Khan*
15(5)
Syed Shah-I
2/23
9.6 Zaki Shah to Bilal Khan, SIX, slower one, almost a hit-me delivery, and Bilal swings at it sweetly, the ball flies well over the man at cow corner and the ropes! Little matter to the eventual result, though, as Belgium takes the game by 42 runs!
9.5 Zaki Shah to Bilal Khan, SIX, Bilal finally frees his arms and smashes this full delivery down the ground and clears long-off with ease!
9.4 Zaki Shah to Gaurav Maithani, gives the charge this time, can only get it to the fielder at cover for a single
9.3 Zaki Shah to Bilal Khan, swings at this one and finds the fielder at deep mid-wicket for a single
9.2 Zaki Shah to Gaurav Maithani, dabs this one straight to point, they set off for the run, the fielder there has a shy and missed the stumps at the striker's!
9.1 Zaki Shah to Bilal Khan, swatted away towards deep mid-wicket, Bilal ambled to the non-striker's as the throw came in there!
9
overs
83/5score
6
1
1
1w
W
1
0
runs
Gaurav Maithani*
3(5)
Bilal Khan
1(1)
Raja-Waqas Ali
2/17
8.6 Waqas Raja to Gaurav Maithani, slower one well outside off, Maithani has a mow across the line and makes zero contact!
8.5 Waqas Raja to Bilal Khan, on a length, Bilal swings at this with a cross bat and takes a single to deep mid-wicket
Bilal Khan, RHB comes out to the crease.
8.4 Waqas Raja to Eldhose Mathew, OUT, in the airrrr, and taken! This one was full and without pace, Mathew skews this one high up in the air, and the fielder at cover settles under it and takes the catch! Eldhose Mathew c Z Shah b W Raja 10 (8b 1x6)
8.4 Waqas Raja to Eldhose Mathew, wide, wayyyy down the leg side, this one!
8.3 Waqas Raja to Gaurav Maithani, on a length on leg-stump, Maithani pulls this one without much contact and gets a single
8.2 Waqas Raja to Eldhose Mathew, pitched up with pace, Mathew drives this one down to long-off for a single
8.1 Waqas Raja to Eldhose Mathew, SIX, slower one, this one, bowled full, and Mathew swings at this through the line and clears the ropes down the ground!
Another impressive over from Reyhan Faiz. Malta has never been in the run-chase after the powerplay. The required rate kept climbing and Malta couldn't quite keep pace with the asking rate.
8
overs
73/4score
1W
1
1w
1
0
1w
1
1
runs
Eldhose Mathew*
3(5)
Gaurav Maithani
2(3)
Reyhan Faiz
0/24
7.6 Reyhan Faiz to Eldhose Mathew, same delivery, Mathew pulls this one away towards deep mid-wicket as well and retains strike