Thailand finish fifth in ACC Men's Challenger Cup

Thailand defeated Indonesia by seven wickets in the ACC Men’s Challenger Cup 2024 to end as fifth-placed team in the T20 tournament being played at the TerdThai Cricket Ground in Bangkok. Maldives beat Bhutan by 32 runs to finish seventh and avoid the wooden spoon.

Indonesia scored 131/8 in 20 overs with Padmakar Surve making 46 and skipper I Kadek Gamantika hitting 30. Former South African first-class player Jandre Coetzee, a left-arm pace bowler who played for Griqualand West, was the most successful bowler for Thailand. He picked 3/9 in four overs.

Thailand batsmen then reached the target in 17.2 overs, losing just three wickets. Akshaykumar Yadav top-scored with 49.

In the match that was to decide the bottom-place finisher in the eight-team competition (apart from three in the qualifiers), Maldives made 137/8 in 20 overs with Yoosuf Azyan scoring 43 off 45 balls. Ibrahim Shaof made 34 off 16 balls.

Tenzin Wangchuk took 2/24. Bhutan were bowled out for 105 in 18.2 overs. Opener Jigme Namgyal Dorji top-scored with 30. Medium-pacer Ibrahim Hassan took 4/12 in 3.2 overs.

The semi-final matches will be played on Friday (February 9) with Saudi Arabia taking on Japan, and Cambodia playing Singapore.

The final is slated for Sunday (February 11).

Cricket, T20, ACC Men's Challenger Cup, Thailand, Indonesia, Maldives, Bhutan