BOTSWANA, May 4: In an absorbing tussle between the two best teams of the tournament, Kuwait kept their reputation high by clinching a well deserved victory over Nigeria in the ongoing ICC WCL trophy being played at Botswana. Kuwait’s excelled in all departments of the game and marched to the victory stand with an emphatic win that too by a huge margin of 9 wickets to be the unbeaten team so far.

Spectacular swing bowling by Saad Khalid who took 5 wickets for 24 runs and immaculate spin bowling by Azmatullah & Abdulla Akunzada who shared a wicket each helped Kuwait to restrict the mighty Nigerians to a paltry 153 runs in 50 overs. Midhun Pakalapati who bowled his medium pacers effectively had a wonderful spell of 1 for 14 in his seven overs.

Winning the toss and electing to field , Kuwait’s Mohammed Murad uprooted the stumps of Nigerian opener Gill and Saad Khalid got rid of Olayinka. Introduction of spinner from the north end saw the downfall of Nigerian skipper Ofem who was bowled neck and crop by leggie Abdullah Akunzada. Sean Philips & Onikoyi toll control over the circumstance & contributed in contrasting style. Onikoyi delt the bowlers with muscularity to carve a quick 20 runs while Sean Philips played an improvised and elegant innings which will remain as one of the best played by a Nigerian in recent times as he stylishily punched and drove with great authority to score a classy 75 runs. Adegbola gave him support to score a sedate 17 runs. As the wicket took enormous turn, skipper Hisham introduced Azmatuulah & Abdulla who spun a web around the Nigerian batsmen and flow of runs dried up quickly. Hisham himself bowled well to capture one wicket for 33 runs.  Nigeria were bowled out for 153 runs in the 50th over as Saad cleaned up the tail in his final spell.

Chasing a moderate total of 153, Kuwait openers Irfan Bhatti & Abid were in great form from the word go. Abid clouted two huge sixes and a four in the very second over but was caught at long on when he attempted for another huge hit. Saud Qamar the one drop batsman & Irfan Bhatti then played sensibly well with some power packed shots and kept the score moving by some well judged singles. Irfan was severe on anything short and danced down the pitch to bang the spinners. The best shot of the day was a well timed six hit through the line over the long on fence and his unbeaten 83 runs contained 4 huge sixes and 8 well timed boundaries which were scored in just 76 balls. Saud Qamar, the stocky batsman drove with precise timing and most of his runs were scored by some awesome pull shots and his solid innings contained 9 hit to the fence. Saud exhibited solid technique and once in form the talented all rounder showed his classic batting skills to help Kuwait over come Nigeria in the 25th over.

Saad Khalid was declared man of the match for his fantastic bowling performance which fetched him 5 wickets.