MAL vs PORT

Thanks for tuning in today. This is Mohul Bhowmick signing off on behalf of Pradeep. Join us at Sportskeeda in a short while when Portugal return to face the hosts Gibraltar in their second match of this tri-nation competition. They will be on a high after this big victory over Malta. Until next time, ciao!

Portugal beat Malta by 84 runs!

Najam Shahzad 44 (29) | Md Siraj Nipo 5/17
Kuldeep Gholiya 27 (21) | Junaid Khan 3/18

Quite surprisingly, the Maltese batting folded and handed Portugal a comfortable victory. Md Siraj Nipo was the star for Portugal with the ball in hand, and made sure that the Maltese batters could not quite free their hands indiscriminately. 

The likes of Junaid Khan and Amir Zaib too managed to get into the act and made sure that Malta were not even able to reach the 100-run mark. A lot was expected of the likes of Basil George, Ryan Bastiansz and skipper Varun Prasath, but they all flattered to deceive. 

Malta will be very displeased with the way they batted today, although left-arm spinner Md Siraj of Portugal will be happy with the fact that he managed to bag a five-wicket haul. Doing so in a Twenty20 game is not easy, but he spun a web against the Maltese batters. 

All in all, Portugal will be happy with the way they performed today. Earlier in the day, it was batter Najeem Shahzad who had given them the luxury to express themselves freely on the field. Portugal come back in a while to take Gibraltar on in their second game of this tri-nation competition. 

13.3 Md Siraj Nipo to Amar Sharma, OUT! STUMPED! That's it, it's all over as Portugal humble Malta in this first game. Md Siraj Nipo picks up a fifer, what a remarkable spell of bowling it has been. Length delivery on the fourth stump. Amar lunges to drive but he's dragged his backfoot outside the crease as the keeper does the rest. Umpire is checking this one upstairs, it's been given OUT!

Amar Sharma st Kuldeep Gholiya b Md Siraj Nipo 10 (11b 0x4 1x6)

12.6 Amir Zaib to Fazil Rahman, OUT! KNOCKED HIM OVER! Done him with a slower one, takes all the pace off and completely deceives Fazil there. He has another wild swing too early and misses, through to rattle the stumps.

12.3 Amir Zaib to Ashok Bishnoi, OUT! BIG APPEAL FOR LBW, UP GOES THE FINGER! That looked like it was sliding down leg but umpire gives it out. Back of a length delivery on the leg-stump line, Bishnoi gets inside the line and looks to clip it but misses, raps on the pad.

Ashok Bishnoi lbw b Amir Zaib 0 (3b 0x4 0x6)

Siraj has spun a web across all the batters of Malta. It is only a matter of time before they get all out and provide Portugal with a rather well-deserved win.

11.6 Md Siraj Nipo to Ashok Bishnoi, full delivery on the stumps, Bishnoi chips it in to the off-side as Nipo sprints to his left but falls well short.