Saudi Arabia finish at the bottom

Afghanistan's lower-order batsmen ensured their side a third-place finish in the ACC Elite Trophy after beating Nepal in a close game at the Bayuemas Oval in Kuala Lumpur. Mohammad Nabi and Samiullah Shenwari scored half-centuries in chasing a target of 211, after the top order collapsed to 88 for 5. However when Nabi fell, Afghanistan still needed 52 off 17.1 overs with just three wickets in hand. Shenwari played a patient innings and, aided by Ahmed Shah's 27-ball 26, took his side to victory with only 10 balls to spare. Nepal had started well, led by Kanishka Chaugai's 43, and would have posted a more challenging total if they hadn't lost four wickets in the middle for 32 runs. Afghanistan used eight bowlers to check Nepal's scoring, with Aimal Wafa being the most successful with 2 for 35.

Bahrain, who had won only one out of their four group games, salvaged a seventh place in the tournament by trouncing neighbours Kuwait by 99 runs at the Selangor Turf Club. Tahir Dar's unbeaten 51-ball 85, along with half-centuries from Azeem-ul-Haq and Mirza Yaqoob, lifted Bahrain to 328 after which opening bowler Halal Abbasi ran through Kuwait's top order to reduce them to 48 for 5. And though Saud Qamar and Mohammad Ahsan revived the innings with a 95-run partnership, once Ahsan was dismissed in the 35th over, Kuwait's chase came undone. The last three wickets falling for 11 runs, and the innings was wrapped up with more than 10 overs remaining.

Saudi Arabia finished last after an abject batting display against Qatar saw them lose by nine wickets after being bowled out for 164 at the Royal Military College. Opening bowler Abbas Khan was the wrecker-in-chief, taking 5 for 20 - with four of his dismissals being caught behinds. Only three Saudi Arabia batsmen reached double figures, while four registered ducks. Suhrab Kilsingatakam and Hussain Anwar's 98-run stand only prevented Saudi Arabia from getting bowled out under 100. Left-arm spinner Sardar Badshah broke their stand and dismissed them in consecutive overs. Qatar took only 22.3 overs to chase the target, with opener Omer Taj unbeaten on 82.