BOTSWANA, May 3: In the second match of the ongoing ICC WCL Division 7 tournament in Botswana, Kuwait displayed their true talent to overcome a stiff resistance to defeat Norway by a huge margin of 7 wickets.
It was a combined team effort by Kuwait whose left arm fast bowler Mohammed Murad ripped the Norway top order batsmen with some fiery & hostile spell which fetched him 6 wickets for just 39 runs and the man of the match ward. Thereafter, some scintillating batting display by Irfan Bhatti, Sibtain Raza and Hisham helped Kuwait to win the second match in comfortable fashion.

Kuwait celebrate the wicket of Shahid Ahmed

Norway won the toss and decided to bat first but their decision back fired as the tall & lanky Mohammad Murad, the gifted Kuwait left arm fast bowler, fired with brutal force to send the top four Norway batsmen to the pavilion. In came Norway’s most experienced batsman Ethesham Ul-Haque and along with young Shahbaz Butt exhibited brilliant batting skills to post 155 runs for the sixth wicket. Sensing the requirement of keeping their head cool, both the batsmen displayed perfect technique to combat the Kuwait spinners Abdulla Akunzada & Azmatullah who bowled their heart out. Ethesham with his nimble foot work and explicit timing slowly started flourishing and rotated the strike to keep the scoreboard moving. Shahabaz was more adventurous and stepped out to loft spinners. Ethesham finally holed out to Abid for a patient 69 runs while Shahabaz remained not out with a splendid 72 runs. Norway scored 246 runs in 50 overs for the loss of 7 wickets.

Jack Sands presents Kuwait’s Mohammad Murad with the man of the match award
 

Chasing 247, Kuwait made a rollicking start with Irfan Bhatti & Abid put on 46 runs opening partnership. Kuwait soon lost and saud Qamar in quick succession and for once Norway were on top. Irfan Bhatti scored a polished 64 runs with 7 fours & a six to long on to give Kuwait a solid start. But it was the experienced duo of Sibtain Raza and skipper Hisham combined together to post a match winning partnership of 168 runs to notch a memorable victory. Both the players who had been playing together since their school days exhibited perfect understanding and south paw Sibtain was at his best cutting and pulling with awesome power. Hisham played a sedate innings in the beginning but soon found his rythem to play another wonderful innings of 64 runs which contaioned 8 fours & one huge six. The stylish Sibtain Raza matched his skipper to notch up 79 unbeaten runs with 9 hits to the fence. Kuwait won the match in 44 overs and currently are placed top on the table.

Kuwait won by 7 wickets (with 34 balls remaining)