UAE take on Afghanistan in crucial clash

Dubai : UAE take on Afghanistan in a crucial Group A match of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Twenty20 Championship at the Shaikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi today.

The UAE and Afghanistan are unbeaten in this tournament with four consecutive victories. This match will decide who will play their semifinals tomorrow. If UAE finishes first, they will play at Sharjah. If they lose they will play in Al Dhaid.

Both teams have equal points but Afghanistan is on top of the table with a run rate of 5.90 against the UAE's run rate of 4.84. The only other team that has remained unbeaten in the championship after their four matches so far is Oman from Group B.

On Thursday evening, Singapore scored an exciting one-wicket win over Hong Kong at the Al Dhaid Cricket Village ground. Chasing Hong Kong's total of 164 for 8, Singapore did it with one wicket and one ball to spare through Chetan Suryawanshi's brilliant 59. Budhikka Mendis chipped in with 43 runs.

Oman scored a 35 runs victory over Malaysia. Oman had hit up 197 for 5 but managed to restrict Malaysia to 162 for 8.

Meanwhile, Kuwait who are second in the Group B table scored an emphatic nine wicket win over Bahrain. Though Bahrain scored an impressive 174 for 7 in 20 overs, Kuwait won in 12.3 overs through Khalid Butt's unbeaten 142 off just 53 balls studded with 10 sixes and 16 boundaries.

Summarised scores:

Singapore bt Hong Kong by one wicket: Hong Kong: 164 for 8 off 20 overs (H.Butt 35; D.Mulewa 2 for 33) Singapore: 165 for 9 off 19.5 overs (B.Mendis 43, C.Surywanshi 59; N.Amar 3 for 33, M.Ahmed 4 for 30) Man of the Match: Chetan Suryawanshi.

Kuwait bt Bahrain by 9 wkts. Bahrain: 174 for 7 off 20 overs (A.Mughal 61; S.Govind 2-26) Kuwait: 175 for 1 off 12.3 overs (Khalid Butt 142n.o) Man of the Match: Khalid Butt (Kuwait)

Nepal bt Qatar by six wickets: Qatar: 96 off 19 overs (I.Hussain 32; S.Gauchan 3 for 19, B.Regmi 3 for 11, S.Regmi 2 for 25) Nepal: 97 for 4 off 18 overs (G.Malla 39n.o; A.Khan 2 for 18) Man of the Match: Shakti Gauchan and Basant Regmi (Nepal)

Oman bt Malaysia by 35 runs . Oman: 197 for 5 off 20 overs (H.Desai 60, A.Ilyas 54, A.Ali 39n.o; S.Navaratnam 2 for 50) Malaysia: 162 for 8 off 20 overs (S.Navaratnam 44; K.Rasheed 2 for 23, A.Ilyas 2 for 23, H.Mehta 2 for 20) Man of the Match: Adnan Ilyas