Kuwait beat Qatar by 7 wickets in ICC men’s T20 World Cup qualifier

DOHA: Kuwait beat hosts Qatar by seven wickets in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Sub Regional Asia Qualifier A 2023 match at the West End Cricket stadium here on Thursday.

In the match between the two regional rivals, Kuwait had sweet revenge of their 1-run defeat suffered at the hands of Qatar in the recently concluded Gulf Cricket T20i tournament last week.

Chasing a modest target of 124 in the allotted 20 0vers Kuwait were never in doubt of achieving the target and cruised towards the target thanks to a terrific start from the openers Ravija Sandaruwan and Meet Bhavsar.

The duo put on 75 runs for the opening wicket with Ravija, who was adjudged the man-of-the match award falling for his individual score of 29-ball 42, laced with three hits to the fence and two sixes.

The other hand Meet contributed with 28 runs from the 19 balls he faces and reached the boundary twice and twice set the ball soaring over the fence.

The two openers had their task cut out, use the feet against the slow bowlers and not allow them to settle down and that is what precisely they did.

Qatar ploy of yet again using the slow bowlers to open the attack and made it difficult for the rivals to score did not work.

The Kuwait openers were not frightened to use the feet and never allowed the Qatari bowlers to settle into a lien and length and that half the battle won.

Both the opens were confident in what they were doing and did it with aplomb.

The qualifiers are held in Doha and run through Oct. 5 with the participation of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the Maldives and hosts Qatar. The winners will qualify for the second qualifiers scheduled in Nepal.

On Friday, Qatar will play Saudi Arabia before facing the Maldives in the final match.