Cricket: Kuwait draw level despite Toor and Butt heroics – Gulf Digital News

Cricket: Kuwait draw level despite Toor and Butt heroics – Gulf Digital News

QUICK-FIRE half-centuries by opener Umer Toor and middle-order batter Haider Butt proved to be in vain as Bahrain lost to Kuwait by 20 runs last night in the second T20I between the two teams at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground in Oman.

Chasing an imposing 210-run target, Toor, who smashed a career-best 72 off just 38 balls with eight fours and four sixes, and Butt, who finished with a career-high and stroke-filled 62 off only 34 deliveries with five fours and five sixes, combined to put on 84 runs off a mere 7.4 overs after Bahrain had slumped to 31 for three in the fourth over.

But, when Toor was bowled by Kuwait leg-spinner Shiraz Khan at the end of the 11th over, Bahrain were 115 for four, with 95 still required off the last nine overs.

Butt, who also top-scored for Bahrain in the first T20I on Thursday, then took charge, adding 38 in no time for the fifth wicket with all-rounder, Sathaiya Veerapathiran, including 22 off the 15th over of the innings bowled by Khan.

With an achievable 60 required off the last five overs, Bahrain needed Butt to carry on with his clean striking for as long as possible. But Kuwait’s