Bhutan’s national team is gearing up for ACC elite cup in Kuwait

Bhutan’s national team is gearing up for the Asian cricket council (ACC) elite cup in Kuwait, which will begin in April. The squad of 14 players, despite leaving behind five key players, is confident and optimistic about performing at their best.

Lobzang Yonten, a teacher from Merak Sakteng and Manoj from Tashi Bank are two of the five. “Although they’re really interested in joining the team to Kuwait, they’re bound by their official duties,” said the coach

Bhutan will be playing against United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, Singapore, Nepal, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman and Malaysia.

“I’ve never played an ACC elite cup and I’m very excited and nervous at the same time,” said bowler Tandin Wangchuk.

Many team members expressed their concern over the lack of a good bowler, including the youth national coach of Bhutan cricket council board Damber S Gurung. “In spite of their absence, we feel competent and up for the tournament,” said Damber.

Although winning the tournament seems like a distant dream, the national squad is eying at least two wins to retain their position in the elite cup group. Failure to do so will result in the team being relegated to challenge cup level.

“It’s a golden opportunity for me to play in the elite cup,” the team’s youngest player Susil S Luite said. “It’s a matter of pride and satisfaction for me to be representing my country.”

bhutan: ACC U-19 Challenge Cup 2009 - China v Myanmar

ACC U-19 Challenge Cup 2009 - China v Myanmar
CHINA CRUSH MYANMAR

Myanmar have been the one team China can consistently beat at this level, but since the last time they met (at senior level) in the ACC Trophy Challenge, Myanmar have narrowed the gap. But there is more than the Gulf of Tonkin between them still as China won by 117 runs in their ACC U-19 Challenge match at the Chiang Mai Gymkhana.

Under the tutelage of Bangladeshi coach Ashfaq-ul Islam Bappy they play straighter, bowl better and field with more aptitude. “We are a long way short of where I would like Myanmar to be, but much advance has happened,” he said while watching today’s match. The 14th wide of the innings passed down the leg-side as he spoke, making him say, “I want them to find out for themselves how much these little things cost. When they know that, they will automatically become better.”

China’s top order play straight but with little power Myanmar, scoring most of their runs behind square. Wides were keeping pace with the batsmen for the first ten overs, as China reached 28 for no loss.

China’s running wasn’t assured, Myanmar’s fielding was enthusiastic if not excellent and there was plenty of dives and dashes into the crease by the batters. Myanmar stuck to their task and though their were more wides than their coach would have liked he was pleased with the way his team stuck to their task.

China always looked like losing wickets until Zhang Yufei their captain came in. He gave a caught and bowled chance to his opposite number Min Hein Khant, the ball after driving him through midwicket. It was a big miss. ‘The Big Man’ as Zhang Yufei is called by his coach, finished the over for a 6. Of course he can score behind square, but he can also score all over the ground.

Zhang took a liking to Saw Phone Tet Phaing’s left arm full-tosses reaching his 50 (46 balls, three 4s, four 6s) with a 6 over square leg. It was China’s first international 50 in three years of men’s international cricket (the women have made three). He looked a class apart today, batting with power and assurance, strong in defence and deft in attack when necessary.

He was seventh out for 75, lbw to Yan Naing Kyaw having scored more than half of his team’s runs and created a landmark for himself and others to pass. The last man was run out off the last ball of the 50th over, and China became the first team to bat out an innings. “We wanted to bat 50 overs today, ‘Big Man’ made the difference,” said China’s coach Rashid Khan, “Myanmar had some good bowlers and didn’t make it very easy for us.” 181 was still the highest score of the tournament so far.

Min Wai, a 17-year old who’s been playing cricket for three years was the pick of them today, taking 3-18. Myat Min Hein took four good catches standing back and had the outfielders been a little sharper, China would have been in trouble.

Extras have been a worry for China’s coach Rashid Khan, “I wasn’t happy with the way they bowled (in China’s win) against Brunei,” when they conceded 27 wides in 27 overs. If Myanmar played through 50 overs today, China’s bowlers would put up a lot of the runs themselves.

Extras were indeed outscoring the batsmen until the 19th over but nine wickets had fallen by then. Aung Aung had played the shot of the day, a back-foot drive which raced to the mid-off boundary but was bowled next ball, which summed up Myanmar’s schizophrenic performance. They were all out for 64.

China celebrated each wicket with rampant joy – they have played a lot and are sick of losing. “I had no idea Myanmar even had a cricket team,” said one of the Australian spectators at the ground. They do, and their day will come eventually.

Source: http://www.asiancricket.org
Source: http://damcrick.blogspot.com/