END OF OVER:
20 | 2 Runs 1 Wkt | MAS: 114/8 (3 runs required, RR: 5.70)

  • Anwar Rahman1 (2b)
  • Syazrul Idrus1 (1b)
  • Afif Hossain4-0-11-3
  • Rishad Hossain3-0-22-1

5:08pm Right. That brings us to the end of our coverage. It was a pleasure bringing this game to you, and hope you enjoyed it just as much as we loved getting the action across. In a couple of days' time, India will clash with Bangladesh, which will be followed by Pakistan locking horns with Afghanistan. Make sure you join us for those contests, but for today, this is goodbye from Chandan, Thilak and Shashwat. Take care, folks!

5:02pm Phew, what a game. It ebbed and flowed, and in the end, Bangladesh held their nerve just that tad bit better. The only reason Malaysia were in with a realistic chance was because of Virandeep, who creamed a sumptuous half-century. He also took responsibility upon himself, although in hindsight, both he and Malaysia might have taken a single off the last ball of the penultimate over and left themselves with four to get in the 20th. Hafizs also tried two glory strokes in the 19th over, and perished to one of those, which meant that all the heavy lifting then had to be done by Virandeep.

Lots of ifs and buts but Malaysia can hold their heads high. They have pushed Bangladesh to the limit, and this experience, while heart-breaking, will make them a much better side moving forward.

Speaking of Bangladesh, they very nearly lost their way in the 16th and 17th over, shipping 29 runs. Captain Saif came back in the 18th over and gave away only six runs, which was then followed up by Rishad, who conceded five runs in the penultimate over and picked up a wicket. Afif then closed it out, and they have now secured a semi-final date with India, even if that looked unlikely about fifteen minutes ago.

19.6
1
Afif Hossain to Anwar Rahman, 1 run, Bangladesh win, and they do so by the skin of their teeth! They are into the semi-final of the Asian Games, and spare a thought for Malaysia! Excellent yorker on off stump. Anwar cannot get under it and he slogs it straight to deep mid wicket. Just a single, and the hearts of the Malaysian cricket fans sink. Bangladesh fans, meanwhile, rejoice, and they have really pulled this one out of the fire!

Last ball coming up. 4 needed for the win. 3 needed for the tie

19.5
1
Afif Hossain to Syazrul Idrus, 1 run, into the blockhole outside off. Idrus gives it everything he has but can only drag it towards deep mid wicket

Idrus in at 10

19.4
W
Afif Hossain to Virandeep Singh, OUT, taken at long on! Virandeep bites the dust, and he is absolutely distraught! Full and hung outside Virandeep's hitting arc. He tries to muscle it over long on but can only hit it down the fielder's throat. Long on just about held onto that - in fact, it was a combination of his hands and left thigh that got the job done! What a moment in this game!

Virandeep Singh c Mahmudul Hasan Joy b Afif Hossain 52 (39b 3x4 4x6) SR: 133.33

5 off 3 now. Malaysia need a boundary from somewhere...

19.3
0
Afif Hossain to Virandeep Singh, no run, slowed up beautifully on a length outside off. Virandeep loses his shape and swings wildly. Misses and the ball hits him on the body

Virandeep might start feeling the pinch now. 5 needed off 4...

19.2
0
Afif Hossain to Virandeep Singh, no run, full and fired well outside off. Virandeep leaves it but because he has shuffled across, the umpire does not call it a wide. Right call, in my opinion!
19.1
0
Afif Hossain to Virandeep Singh, no run, back of a length outside off. Virandeep dabs it towards short third man. Dot ball to start the over!

This has gone right down to the wire. 5 needed off 6 balls. Virandeep on strike. Afif with the ball. The leg-side boundary is invitingly short. Afif to bowl around the wicket. Who's winning this?

END OF OVER:
19 | 5 Runs 1 Wkt | MAS: 112/7 (5 runs required from 6 balls, RR: 5.89, RRR: 5.00)

  • Anwar Rahman0 (1b)
  • Virandeep Singh52 (35b)
  • Rishad Hossain3-0-22-1
  • Saif Hassan4-0-17-0
18.6
0
Rishad Hossain to Anwar Rahman, no run, goes for the reverse first up! Length on middle and off. Anwar does not get the purchase he is after but manages to get it over the keeper. Single not taken, though

Anwar in at 9. Surely he has to play in even numbers this ball?

18.5
W
Rishad Hossain to Ainool Hafizs, OUT, bowled'im around his legs! Full and darted into leg stump. Hafizs, knowing the finish line is close, tries to paddle sweep it. Does not get any bat on it, though, and the ball sneaks past the bat before smashing into leg stump. A very useful cameo but he would have loved to have finished the job!

Ainool Hafizs b Rishad Hossain 14 (13b 1x4 1x6) SR: 107.69

18.4
0
Rishad Hossain to Ainool Hafizs, no run, looped up invitingly outside off. Hafizs tries to finish it with one blow but only has a fresh-air swing
18.3
1
Rishad Hossain to Virandeep Singh, 1 run, fired in quicker and angled into leg stump. Virandeep works it into the on side for one
18.2
0
Rishad Hossain to Virandeep Singh, no run, tossed up outside off. Virandeep goes searching for this a little away from his body and gets beaten
18.1
4
Rishad Hossain to Virandeep Singh, FOUR, deftly done! And he gets to fifty too! Shortish outside off. Virandeep sits deep in his crease and peels the outer cover off the ball, scything it between backward point and short third

Nelson Joseph: "Come on Malaysia. Easy....easy.. Just simple cricketing shots. No fancy stuff please." -- Less than run-a-ball needed now...

10 needed off 12. Rishad back into the attack. Can the leg-spinner rip this game open for Bangladesh?

END OF OVER:
18 | 6 Runs | MAS: 107/6 (10 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 5.94, RRR: 5.00)

  • Ainool Hafizs14 (11b)
  • Virandeep Singh47 (32b)
  • Saif Hassan4-0-17-0
  • Rakibul Hasan4-0-26-1
17.6
0
Saif Hassan to Ainool Hafizs, no run, length on middle and leg. Hafizs thinks about the reverse initially before changing his mind several times. In the end, he dabs it towards what was originally short fine leg, while being in a left-handed position
17.5
1
Saif Hassan to Virandeep Singh, 1 run, length just outside off. Virandeep tips it into the off side and Hafizs responds. Lackadaisical fielding by Bangladesh. That should never be a run
17.4
1
Saif Hassan to Ainool Hafizs, 1 run, well well! Full on off stump. Hafizs gets into position for the scoop early and gets it over the keeper's head. Bags a single for his toil
17.3
1
Saif Hassan to Virandeep Singh, 1 run, full outside off. Virandeep stretches forward and eases it into the off side for a single. Smart batting!

The physio came out to attend to Hafizs. Looks set to continue. Here is Virandeep on strike

17.2
1lb
Saif Hassan to Ainool Hafizs, 1 leg bye, length just outside off. Hafizs looks for the big slog sweep but makes no contact. Pings off his body into the off side for a leg bye. That might have hit him on the helmet, actually
17.1
2b
Saif Hassan to Ainool Hafizs, 2 byes, oh my! Flighted up nicely just outside off. Hafizs goes searching for it and is beaten as the ball spins sharply past the inside edge. The keeper cannot gather, though, and Malaysia get two byes

The game has turned dramatically in the last few overs. Malaysia need 16 off 18, and this has surely become their game to lose now? Saif brings himself back on for the 18th

END OF OVER:
17 | 13 Runs | MAS: 101/6 (16 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 5.94, RRR: 5.33)

  • Ainool Hafizs13 (7b)
  • Virandeep Singh45 (30b)
  • Rakibul Hasan4-0-26-1
  • Sumon Khan2-0-20-0
16.6
1
Rakibul Hasan to Ainool Hafizs, 1 run, back of a length on off stump. Hafizs stays back and pulls it away towards deep mid wicket
16.5
4
Rakibul Hasan to Ainool Hafizs, FOUR, four more! Long hop outside off. Hafizs has all the time in the world to rock back and crunch it past deep mid wicket!
16.4
0
Rakibul Hasan to Ainool Hafizs, no run, length delivery outside off. Hafizs tries the reverse (ambitiously) and misses it altogether
16.3
1
Rakibul Hasan to Virandeep Singh, 1 run, full just outside off. Virandeep gets forward and nudges it into the off side for one
16.2
1
Rakibul Hasan to Ainool Hafizs, 1 run, fuller and flatter at the stumps. Hafizs turns it into the on side and gets Virandeep back on strike
16.1
6
Rakibul Hasan to Ainool Hafizs, SIX, palms it over the bar! Flighted up just outside off. Hafizs gets down for the slog sweep and seems to mistime it a touch. The fielder on the rope jumps up a touch but then lets the ball go through his hands!

Rakibul is back. Can he get rid of Virandeep? 29 needed off 24 now...

Malaysia 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st14Syed AzizZubaidi Zulkifle
2nd4Syed AzizMuhammad Amir
3rd0Ahmed FaizSyed Aziz
4th20Virandeep SinghSyed Aziz
5th34Virandeep SinghS Vijay Unni
6th0S MuniandyVirandeep Singh
7th40Virandeep SinghAinool Hafizs
8th0Anwar RahmanVirandeep Singh
9th2Syazrul IdrusAnwar Rahman

Asian Games Men's Cricket Competition

Group A
TeamMWLPTNRR
NEP220410.275
MDV2112-1.7
MNG2020-11.575
Group B
TeamMWLPTNRR
HKG22043.507
JPN2112-0.015
CAM2020-3.5
Group C
TeamMWLPTNRR
MAS22046.675
SGP21120.65
THA2020-7.325