By Syed Mussarat Khalil

JEDDAH — First day of the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup Div. 2 Asia qualifiers saw some entertaining cricket though both Group A matches in Bangkok were hit by after-effects of overnight rain.

The encounter between Saudi Arabia and host Thailand at TCG ground was reduced to 28-over-a side affair due to delayed start. The hosts had high hopes of victory when they dismissed the Saudis for 104. Nawazish Jezuli made 35 but the last six wickets were taken for 27 runs as Salawut Maliwan claimed 3 for 19.

Thailand’s reply started strong but the hosts collapsed from 38 for 2 to 53 all out in 18 overs as three Saudi bowlers took two wickets apiece to give their side victory by 51 runs.

Captain Mohammed Nawazish Jezuli was declared the Man of the Match.

In other matches, Hong Kong defeated China by 182 runs, Bahrain beat Maldives by 14 runs and Oman overwhelmed Bhutan by eight wickets.

At Prem, Hong Kong made the highest total of the day as it posted 249. Its opener Kalhan Challu made an elegant century. He was finally dismissed for 109 from 109 balls with 14 fours and a six but his team could not bat out the 50 overs as China gave a wholehearted performance in the field. Fast bowler Wang Zihau claimed excellent figures of 4 for 23 as Hong Kong lost its last five wickets for just 12 runs.

At Gymkhana, Bahrain was dismissed for 173 in 44.3 overs. Jagan top scored with 60 from 85 balls while Ali Ivan took 3 for 14 for Maldives.

In reply, Maldives was dismissed for 159. Rauf Rahil top scored with 32, opener Mafaaz Hussain and Ahmed Raid hit 31 each. Sajjad bowled well and took 5 wickets.

In reply, China could make only 67 in 23 overs as its opener Gao Guohao was the only man to reach double figures. Opening bowlers Nasrulla Rana and Vikas Sharma took three wickets apiece as Hong Kong enjoyed an emphatic victory by 182 runs.

At AIT, the final match of the day between Oman and Bhutan at AIT was reduced to 26 overs a side. Bhutan was demolished for 48 in 19.3 overs as KS Kattokaran returned outstanding figures of 4 for 5. Oman reached its target of 49 in 11.4 overs to win comfortably by eight wickets.