SE Asia/Pacific 2026 T20 WC Qualifiers Day 2

A lng hot day yesterday followed by a long hot day today!!  The excitement of the Nepal win last night compares with the sedate start to this morning as Qatar take on Malaysia (another side I have no past knowledge of) in the first match of the second day.  The middle game where Kuwait take on Japan is the fascinating one for new cricketing experiences and the day finishes off wth PNG versus the men of Samoa.  So a day of interesting firsts with important second games for all the sides that lost on Day 1.  The victors from Day 1 will also be interested because if one of the sides fail again on Day 2 it confirms the winnders from Day 1 in the Super 6's. A loss to Qatar this morning will confirm UAE.  If Kuwait lose this afternoon then Nepal progress and if Samoa lose again Oman stay in their home tournament. 

South East Asia/Pacific 2026 T20 WC Qualifier Day 2 Al Amerat Oman

Game 4 - Malaysia v Qatar @ Turf 1 Al Amerat Thursday 9 October 2025

Malaysia, who are a new side to me, look to have a say in the tournament immediately by knocking out Qatar after their loss against the UAE yesterday afternoon.  A win for the new boys will confirm their own progress into the 'Super 6's while a second loss to the Arab side will send them home.  All to play for then.

Qatar won the toss and opted to bowl first so the Malaysian openers Mubarak and Aiman walk out to face the opening attack of Baig and Ur Rehman. The first two overs go well and the Malays go into the third with 18 on the board mostly from the bat of Aiman.  However with the first ball of the third Baig gets Mubarak to guide the ball to Tanveer who does not drop it and the first victim goes back to the dressing room for 2.  In comes Fiaz but the main problem for Qatar early on is Aiman who is showing his teammates how to play the initial Qatari attack with some aplomb.

He, almost single handedly has moved the score on to 31 in the fourth with 2 fours and 2 sixes in his total before Rehman gets the measure of him and he is bowled for 23 from 11.  His replacement is Virdeep Singh but it looks like to body of the batting goes with the last man as Fiaz is dimissed at the start of the 5th over without the score changing.  he is caught and bowled by Baig (who seems to be one of the bowlers of the early rounds presently).

31 for 3 becomes 40 for 4 when Fiaz's replacement Syahadat is caught by Lyanage off the bowling of that man Baig while 2 balls later the bowler picks up his fourth as new man Wahid doesn't bother the scorers caught by Wasim as the score falters at 40 for 5.

Singh has been working hard at the other end and with the next man in Unmi they move the score past 50 at the end of the 8th.  But just after the 50 Unmi is run out by Rehman and it is 51 for 6   

By the halfway stage they are at 54 for 6. Mohammed Mirza Baig finishes his spell with figures of 4 /17/4 as we move into the secon half of the game with the new Qatari partnership showing much more backbone as they move the score into the 70s in the 14th over with Singh moving into the 20s with his new partner Minaindy on 10

However the resistance is still quite fragile and while Singh stays there, he keeps losing his supporting bagts who are doing little more than holding up an end.  It all crashes down at 88 when Malaysia lose  Munaindy for 14 caught and bowled Owais Ahmed then Hayat LBW first ball to Ahmed followed by Hafizs caught by Baig to give Ahmed an international hat-trick!!!!  Excellent bowling and he is quite excited by the event!!

Qatar fall from 88 for 6 to 88 for 9 all in the 16th over.  the 17th starts with last man Ullah joining the defiant Singh trying to make it to 20 overs.  They pass 100 in the 18th as Singh passes 40 with Ullah taking singles rto keep the man on strike.  They finish the 19th on 110 with Singh very close to a well deserved 50 on 49 nfrom 48, Ullah has 5 and knows his role in this. With the third ball he takes 2 and moves to 51 at a run a ball.  A fighting knock if ever there was one.  He then lets loose with a four and then a six with a snick for 1 to finish undefeated on 62 from 54 with Ullah still on 5 at the other end.  123 for 9 did not look possible at 88 but Virdeep Singh has given his side something to bowl at.  This game is not yet over.

The Qatar opening pair Imal Liyanage and Zubair Ali come out to put themselves back in the hunt for a Super 6 place.  The opening bowling pair for Malaysia are skipper Syed Mubarak and Arif Ullah  (straight back onto the field after batting heroics).

They are tight and the Malaysian fielding is hectic and intense - they are a very 'chatty' side.  As the 6th over arrives to end the 'Powerplay' they have restricted the Qataris to 22 without loss though they will be disappointed that a catch off Ali was put down when he was on 14 from 12 in the 4th over and the score was only 19.  The fielder seems to have gotr his whole body behind the ball as it dropped but it rolled out on hitting the ground.  It's one of those that you hope does not come back to haunt you later

At the end of the 'Powerplay' overs the score has moved towards 30 but the first six over play has not been as impressive as that seen in the upper levels of international cricket.  Watching Salt and Bulbeck take apart the Irish attack at Malahide last month there would be mayhem against some of these sides.  They took 84 from the Irish for the loss of Duckett in the first game of the 3 in Dublin.

The Qatar bats connect with the ball an awful lot but they don't cut through the infield all that well and though lost of stuff is kept n the ground they seem to fined fielders far too often.  This means the score moves at tortoise pace a lot of the time and larger scores become a problem for them in the second half of the innings.  Many of the higher scores in this series so far are 'run a ball' scores with few boundaries to supplement the rate.  Only Bhurtle and Jha of Nepal last night scored at anything like a normal T20 rate for short periods.  

Qatar finally put the pedal down and pass 50 in the 9th but as they go over the top they also become prey for out fielders and Liyanaga  is caught in the deep bu Singh off the bowling of Hayat trying to push the score at 58 for 1.  He goes for 14 and in comes Asim as the game moves to the drinks break at 10 overs.  Qatar add nothing more before the break.  So they need 66 runs from the last 60 to keep in the tournament.

Asim's first shot is a cover driven four which will make him feel better after the first ball duck he suffered in the game yesterday.  The good feelings don't last long as he is soon on his way back to the hutch for 7 at 69 for 2.  Meanwhile Ali has moved on to a significant score and he passes 50 from 38 balls at 82 ffor 2 in the 15th over.  His side need 42 runs from 34 balls and while he is there they will probably get them and keep their hopes alive.

Ali and Baig look to put this one away and pass 100 with an Ali six at the end of the 16th.  This is followed by a Baig four and a six at the start of the 17th as they go in for the kill moving the score to 115 for 6 and needing only 9 to ensure victory and a lifeline for Qatar.  At the end of the over the ask is down to six and Baig completes the win by bouncing one off the pavilion for an 8 wicket win at 124 for 2.

He is some player Mohammed Baig!!  He scores 35 from 19 while his partner Zubair Ali  played his part with 65 from 56 balls.  Solid win against an enthusiatic Malaysian side who did rue the Ali drop in the end.  Catches win matches and all that. 

Qatar have 1 win and a loss while Malyasia will have to come again tomorrow against the UAE

Man of the Match - Zubair Ali

Game 5 Kuwait v Japan @Turf 2 Al Amerat Oman Thursday 9 October 2025

Definitely one of the more interesting fixtures in the calendar at this event is the appearance of a Japanese national cricket team.  Today they face a Kuwaiti side that must win and if they beat them they will qualify for the 'Super 6's' and get to play the next level up of national sides in 5 games over the next 10 days.  It's a prize for a developing nation.

It is doubtful that the Arab nations have played Japan before.  Nepal certainly haven't I am told.  So its an intriguing way to spend an afternoon.

Kuwait bat first so Anto and Sanduaran will face the early dual spin of Samad (not Japanese by birth I would imagine) and Hinze (probably not either!).. There are definite Australasian accents in the Japanese fielding positions and they are geeing each other up a number of languages including English - which is not unusual to be honest.

The Japanese pull the first surprise as at the end of the first over Samad fools Sanduaran  and bowls him for a score of four from the one scoring shot in the first 5 balls.  In comes Bhavsar and looks to stamp his authority at once with a four from his first ball.  First over - 8 for 1 and a definite game on.  

The Kuwaitis take Charles Hinze from the other end with caution and it is 14 for 1 after 2.  Samad continues and is partnered with the spin of Takahashi (definitely Japanese!!).  It's 27 after 4 and then Hinze returns and it is 35 after 5.  In the 6th they c;limb in a bit with 2 fours and a six, helped by a couple of Takahashi wides.  they pass 50 to 53 for 1 at the end of the 'Powerplay'. 

Japan need to reel this one back in and they turn to a very very tall and pretty fast to boot Shoman-Slater who looks mixed race asian for definite.  He steams in though Anto does get hold of one and sends it for six.  The score is still climbing when Ravichandran is introduced who, although he is bald, isn't of Japanese descent.  He makes the breakthrough when he has Bhavsar caught by Takahashi at the end of the 8th for 29 from 24 at 66 for 2 (3 fours and a six).

Zaheer joins Anto but the Japanese have pulled it back a little and at the end of the 10th the score is 77 for 2 with Anto on 33 from 26 and Zaheer with 3 to his name from 6.  The need for consistent bowlers as you make your way into the Associate circus then becomes obvious.  The Japaness need to keep taking wickets to stay in this game and if they don't they willbe facing a large target in their innings.  Anto and Zaheer understand this and will start taking on anything loose at all as they have wickets in hand.  Doing this they lose Anto at 90 caught very well on the boundary by Declan Suzuki from the bowling of Ravichandran and they have held the scoring while that happened as that was in the 12th over.  However the bats keep coming as Patel is the next man in and he has the same objective.  He and Zaheer go after the spin of Ito -Davis, Suzukie and Shoman- Slater and by the time they get their next wicket in(Zaheer) the 16th, the score is past 150 (156) and the game may be beyond them.  In the last 5 they pull it back in and get wickets but they are extras Patel and Farooq in the last over when the damage is done and they are chasing 178 to win.

Can they do it?  Highly unlikely but let's see what they have in the batting locker.

Kendall Fletcher and Abishek Anand  are the opening pair for Japan.  Fletcher does have Kandowaki as his double barrelled name so we assume he has married into Japan.  He's big and he hits clean and Kuwait find out quickly as Patel and Farooq fly to all parts and they finish the first two overs oh 26 for no loss.  Unortunately at the start of the 3rd Anon skies one and goes for 2 although he is nearly dropped.  Most of the runs are coming from the bat of Fleming and he is joined by Rehman.

This pair push the score to 45 by the start of the 5th and 3 consecutive fours from Rehman move the new side past 50 and to 57 for 1 at the end of the 5th and 64 for 1 at the end of the 'Powerplay' overs with Fleming on 27 from 18 and Rehman passing him with 31 from 17.  There is most definitely a game going on here.  Many think it may be over in the next Chenthamara over when at 68 Fleming is run out by Ravachendran looking for a second.  Is that it?  is that all Japan have?

In comes the Japanese Ravichandaran and the runs needed drops below 100 with 112.3 to go.  So they are still pushing it along.  Rehman goes to a personal 50  with 54 from 32 courtesy of a massive six and at the 120 over stage Japan have reached 95 without further loss and it is starting to look like aserious attempt to get these runs.

The floodlights are brought on at 5pm but it is immaterial as Rehman just continues.  He brings up the Japanese 100 with another huge six - 104 for 2 and they need 73 in 8.4 overs. Rehman's personal contribution ends at 106 when he is caught in the deep by Patel from the bowling of Shiraz Khan  for an excellent 64 from 39 with 9 fours and 2 sixes.  Is that it? are Japan done?

In comes Takahashi to join Ravichandaran and they start to move the score towards 150.  With 5 overs to go they have reached 143 and they need 36 from 5... not too hard in T20 terms. 

The 150 arrives from a single and Takahashi departs 2 runs later to an excellent diving catch from Mohammed Farooq off the bowling of Patel.  His 26 from 15 has got them close but can they get over the line?

Ben Ito-Davis the tall spinner is next in and we all hope his batting is a little better than his bowling today.  He and Ravichandran need 25 from 24.  The 17th from Chenthamara is mostly dots and singles and it moves the score to 157 for 4.  Farooq takes the 18th with 21 needed from 18.  A six and a four plus a dropped catch at midwicket during it means. Chenthmara is defending 7 in 12.

The pair scrabble 6 to tie the game but Ravichandaran is a little too eager to get the last run and is run out trying to remake his ground at the non strikers end.  In comes Declan Suzuki needing 1 to win facing Nowfar.  He tries to sweep three times and misses three times before he scrabbles the single they need to win and Japan qualify for the Super 6's by sending Kuwait home with two losses with a victory by 5 wickets.

That makes tomorrow's game between Japan and Nepal a 'Super' 6 game as they can take their point through to the next round and it also means 4 more games for the Japanese against much stronger opposition.  They will find it hard against the Nepalese bowlers and grond fielding but you can't learn if you don't play and they certainly did that today.

A nice little gesture at the end.  4 Japan supporters were in the fan stand at this end of the ground.  After the game the whole Japanese squad walked down to this end, stood in a line with arms around shoulders and formally thanked the fans (Arigato) and bowed to them.  They may not all look Japanese but they certainly did their country (adopted or not) proud today.  

Man of the Match - Eesam Rehman

Game 6 Samoa v PNG Turf 2 Al Amerate Oman Thursday 9 October 2025

PNG bat first in this decider for the Oman group.  Samoa cannot afford to lose or they are going home.  Bali and Toka are the opening pair for PNG and Tugaga opens the bowling ass he did for Somoa yesterday aganst the host nation.

The quantity of fans not the same as it was for the Nepal game last night but they are as vocal if not in the same numbers.

Captain Jasmat opens the bowling from the 'mountain' end and after two overs the PNG men have moved on to 6 without loss.

Bali hits the first boundary at the start of the third and Toka responds with the first six before the end of it straight over the bowler's head.  Nash bowls the fourth and he breaks through at 26 as he bowls Bali for 13 from 15 bringing Bau out to take his place.  Jasmat changes ends,  Nash then has Saka looking to take him on but although he is gettingcontact he's not getting distance and eventually he hangs one up for Solar to take and it is 46 for 2 in the 6th

The 'Powerplay' phase ends with PNG 47 for 2.  Visser comes on to bowl to new boy Nou who misses the first one and after some umpire deliberation is sent back to the dressing room first ball and it is 47 for 3 as Vala takes his place with his partner Toka.  They move past 50 in Burgess's first over of the evening and have 53 by the time Visser has his second from the Pavilion.  Toka is out of his ground but the keeper fails to collect properly and he is missed with the score on 55 which is where the 9th ends.

Jasmat takes the 10th and Toka comes steaming down for a run, is sent back and the bowler breaks the stumps from the middle of the pitch before he gets there.  He departs for 29 - daft way to get out.  Vala faces as his new partner Vare takes his place at the non striker's end.  The halfway point arrives at 61 for 4 with Vala on 10 and Ware on 1, neither really yet in a position to 'boss' this innings, but someone has to.

Mailata takes the 11th with his slower millitary medium taking the pace off the ball and making it hard to get the bowling away. Tugaga does the same for the 12th at the other end and they confuse the bats resulting in a run out with Ware leaving an Ray arriving at 66 for 5.

Fatu Tiai starts his evening's work with the 13th. They dry up the boundaries as the game moves to the last 5 overs of the PNG innings.  Visser returns for the 15th and Vala breaks the boundary shackle, but only once as they move to 89 for 5 with 5 to go.

Vala decides enough is enough and takes Fatu Tiai on, depositing him into the buildings at square for six.  Ray is more subtle as he guides the ball down the hil towards the Pavilion boundary taking two while the chase takes place. A single brings up the 100 at the end of the 16th with Vala  on 35 from 34 and Ray on 11 from 12.  For Ray that is all she wrote as he fires one to the square boundary and is picked up by a running fielder just inside the rope.  100 for 6 as Ravu takes his place in the middle for no more than 21 balls.

Nash has two left and will bowl out at the 'Mountain' end.  He presently has 2 for 14 and may be hoping that they take him on - which PNG have to whether they like it or not.  Vala goes for it and is caught in the deep very competently.  In comes Vagi Morea at 106 for 7.  Before the end of the over, Nash bowls Ravu for 5 and it becomes 107 for 8 with 12 balls to go. Nao is in to face Jasmat's last but it is Vagi Morea who snicks his second into the keeper's gloves.  We move to 109 for 9 as last man Kariko arrives and immediately takes a single.

PNG take it to the last over at 110 for 9.  Nao ramps Nash second ball for four.  He tries it again next ball and is pretty 'miffed' when he doesn't connect.  They try to take rwo off the last ball but Mailata is quicker fires the ball in and the last man is run out going for the second.  PNG finish on 117 all out and Samoa need 118 to stay in th tournament.

Vagi Morea opens the bowling from the Pavilion end defending 118.  Visser and Solia face him trying to score it.  Both Samoan openers have something to prove because they failed to differing degrees in the first game against Oman.

A misfield boundary is the first scoring shot in the innings.  Visser starts with 6 when he should only have 3.  Samoa have 7 after 1.  The 'Mountain' end opener is Ravu and they've moved it n to 13 by the end of his first effort.  Bau takes the third and we see the Solia we didn't see yesterday as he dismisses a second shot to the boundary with absolute contempt.  Visser is ttrying the same but doesn'tquite have the timing.  After a couple of lucky flashes he skies one into the mountain darkness and perishes to an exccellently judged catch in the deep off the bowling of Nao.  Samoa are 33 for 1 in the 5th.  Mailata is in at number 3.

After the obligatory 6 'Powerplay' overs Samoa have moved to 37 for 1.  The spin of Kariko is introduced in the 8th over as Samoa look to pass the 50 threshold.  The move to it in singles just before the end of the 8th.  They don't seem too concerned that they need 68 from 11 overs.  To be fair, the odd six into the other pitch can take the total down quickle and Mailata produces such a shot at the start of the next over.  The PNG bowling is not convincing many that they can hold this batting attack so they need wickets and they need them soon or this duo may very well do most of the work before they leave the field.

A difficult six on the boundary catch is dropped, it was difficult as it had to be caight over the rope while keeping feet firmly inside.  It was too far in so the fielder only got fingers to it and it went for six. As we move towards the 10 over spot, these two are starting to motor.  73 for 1 at 10 overs with Solia on 36 from 27 and Mailata on 19 from 16.  They need 43 runs from 60 balls.

Kariko strikes at the start of the second 'half' as Mailata misjudges the bounce and misses a straight one.  He's LBW for 19 and it is 75 for 2.  The next man in is Taylor facing Ravu and after the 12th they need 40 from the overs left.  There seems to be some kind of problem and Taylor seems to have retired injured. He has been replaced by Fatu Tiai as it still shows 79 for 2 in the 13th.  He tries to pull Ravu and is dismissed at the start of the 14th for 1.  82 for 3 as the captain Caleb Jasmat comes out to do the skipper thing and put this game away.  Solia has been pretty much silent in all this as he sits on 44.  Samoa need roughly a run a ball.

A Jasmat boundary decreases the pressure a little as the end the 14th and PNG turn to the spin of Bau the Samoan captain treats him with respect.  We go into the last 5 needing 31 from 30 and Nao bowling his third.  It's all singles with no boundaries presently so both sides are in this.  Solia breaks the deadlock and puts the ball into the supporters toilets!!  This moves him to 50 (53) from 40 balls and puts the Samoan 100 in sight as we move to 24 balls to go.  Samoa need 20.

The 100 arrives off another single and Jasmat is then dropped chopping a ball into the covers.  Straight into the 'bread basket' at speed but you have to hold on to those.  Vila takes the 17th and Solia puts him into the fans stand before being bowled trying it again.  Vila is pumped up by that but Solia has finally made sure that Samoa only need 9 thanks to his 45 ball 65.

In comes Sululoto who certainly didn't hang about yesterday.  His third ball goes over the fence and Samoa need 3 from the last 12.  They take the first from Bau's first of the 18th.  Sululoto ties the game and the skipper wins it with a cut single.  

Samoa win by 6 wickets and the tournament goes on for PNG tomorrow.

Man of the Match - Sean Solia