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IT was described as the best innings played for Singapore. It certainly was one of the best seen in the territory, considering the circumstances under which it was played.

  An incredible knock by 20-year-old Muhammad Naushad, scoring 53 runs off 26 balls, lifted Singapore to a superb two-wicket win over Hong Kong in the final of the MBf Tuanku Ja'afar Cup yesterday.

  'That innings definitely has to be the best played for Singapore,' Singapore captain Thaiyar Mohamed said afterwards.

  Spectators at the Hong Kong Cricket Club would have agreed wholeheartedly.

  Never mind the superficial evidence of Naushad's innings - the hard facts like scoring four sixes and five fours, or that his last 49 runs came off only 14 balls.

  What mattered was the pressure under which Naushad played. When he walked in, Hong Kong were in the driving seat with Singapore struggling at 124 for five in the 37th over, chasing a target of 235.

  Naushad had hardly any time to settle in when the situation turned from bad to worse with vice-captain and the anchor of the innings Kiran Deshpande dismissed for 50.

  Looking at the scoreboard at the start of the final 10 overs, Naushad saw his side needed 103 runs to pull off an improbable victory. With all these pressures in mind to bear, Naushad's knock takes on legendary proportions.

  There was little sign of the hurricane to hit Hong Kong's bowlers at the start. But together with partner Narayanan Balasubramaniam, the deluge of runs began in the 42nd over.

  In six overs, Singapore hammered 88 runs. Four balls were lost. Match manager Jim Middleton was soon walking around with a couple of balls in his hands - to replenish the balls hit out of the ground.

  Hong Kong bowlers Jawaid Iqbal, Ravi Sujanani, Ben Hall and Stewart Brew were all treated with utter disdain. Brew, who was brought into bowl in the hope of stemming the runs saw his figures of two for 16 off seven overs, turn to two for 48 in the space of two overs.

  The hurricane had to end. But when Naushad was caught on the point boundary by Sujanani off Hall, Singapore were just 24 runs from victory and they got them easily.

  The 84 runs Naushad and Balasubramaniam put on in 40 balls was the icing on the cake. The hard graft had been done earlier by Deshpande and Zubin Shroff who revived their side from a dismal 41 for four with an 83-run partnership.

  Deshpande, who also bowls left-arm spin, epitomised the fighting character of Singapore. He took three for 51 in Hong Kong's innings and could be judged Man of the Match. But the match-winner undoubtedly was Naushad.

  For Hong Kong, left-hander Mark Eames was the most outstanding bat. Eames, who was out one short of a well-deserved half-century, figured in a 100-run partnership with top-scorer Brew (73).

  Among the bowlers, spinners Yarman Vachha and John Storey, excelled with tight spells. But their efforts proved to be in vain.



Rookie floors HK with sizzling knock