Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (September 7): The Maldives National Cricket Team secured victories in their final two matches of the T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier A.
The qualifier featured seven teams: Maldives, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Kuwait, Mongolia, Myanmar, and Singapore. Despite losing their first four games, Maldives finished on a high note with wins against Myanmar and Mongolia.
In their opening match, Maldives fell to Malaysia by 94 runs. They then lost to Singapore by 47 runs, Kuwait by 142 runs, and were defeated by Hong Kong by 9 wickets.
In their fifth game, Maldives triumphed over Myanmar by nine wickets. They concluded their campaign by defeating Mongolia by 117 runs to secure fifth place in the qualifier standings.
Choosing to bat after winning the toss, Maldives scored 178 runs in their 20 overs, losing six wickets. Gedara contributed 56 runs, team captain Azyan Farhath added 55 runs, and vice-captain Adam Nasif Umar scored 32 runs.
Mongolia struggled in response and was all out for 61 runs. Azyan Farhath claimed four wickets and was named Man of the Match.
Under the guidance of Sri Lankan coach Pasindu Liyanaarachchi, the Maldives team finished fifth in the qualifier.
The Cricket Board of Maldives (CBM) noted progress, highlighting that competing against regional powerhouses and scoring over 100 runs in three out of four innings reflects significant improvement.
