Malaysia rout China by six wickets as Syed Aziz takes 4-8 to seal top-three finish in T20 World Cup qualifier
Syed Aziz took 4-8 as Malaysia bowled China out for 60 and won in 7.2 overs, guaranteeing a top-three spot in Asia Qualifier B for the 2028 T20 World Cup.
Malaysia have secured a top-three finish and a place in the next stage of Asia's qualifying pathway for the 2028 ICC Men's T20 World Cup after thrashing China by six wickets at Bayuemas Oval on Wednesday morning, 14 October. Syed Aziz took four wickets for eight runs as China were held to 60 all out in their 20 overs, and the hosts knocked off the target in just 7.2 overs.
The win completes a strong recovery for Malaysia in the Sub-Regional Asia Qualifier B, after they lost their first two matches of the week.
Syed Aziz sets the tone
Malaysia won the toss and chose to bowl, and the decision paid off almost immediately. China lost three wickets with only four runs on the board inside the first three overs, with Syed Aziz doing much of the early damage. He finished with 4-8 from his four overs and was named player of the match.
Azri Azhar chipped in with two wickets as China struggled to build any partnerships. Opener Du Jianyao was their top scorer with 14 off 38 balls, an innings interrupted when he retired hurt before returning later.
The chase was brief. Aslam Khan hit 27 off 15 balls and Nazmus Sakib added 20 off 11 as Malaysia reached 63-4, finishing the match with 76 balls to spare.
From two defeats to three straight wins
Malaysia's campaign started badly. They lost a rain-affected opener to Hong Kong by seven runs under the DLS method, then went down to Saudi Arabia by three wickets after posting 137-2.
The turnaround began in Bangi on Sunday, 11 October, when they beat the Maldives by six wickets with 67 balls left; Pavandeep Singh took 4-13 and Syed Aziz smashed 57 off 18 balls. On Monday, 12 October, Virandeep Singh produced an outstanding all-round display against Singapore, scoring 65 and taking 5-14 in a 37-run victory.
Why Malaysia are safe in the top three
Before Wednesday's games, Saudi Arabia led the six-team group with eight points from four wins, followed by Hong Kong on five, and Malaysia and Singapore on four each. The Maldives had three and China none.
The win over China lifts Malaysia to six points from five matches. The top three teams in the round-robin advance, and Malaysia cannot be pushed lower than third. Hong Kong and Singapore meet each other in the last round, so only one of them can climb above six points, while the Maldives can reach no more than five. The final order, including whether Malaysia finish second or third, depends on the afternoon matches between Hong Kong and Singapore and between Saudi Arabia and the Maldives, both scheduled to start at 2pm Malaysia time.
What happens next
Malaysia hosted both Asia sub-regional qualifiers this month, with Qualifier A and Qualifier B running at the same time at Bayuemas Oval, UKM Oval and STC Oval from 5 to 14 October. The top three from each event go through to the Asia regional final in 2027, the next step towards the 2028 World Cup. All matches are streamed live and free on ICC.tv.
Key takeaways
- Malaysia beat China by six wickets, bowling them out for 60 and chasing it down in 7.2 overs.
- Syed Aziz took 4-8 and was player of the match.
- Malaysia recovered from losses to Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia with three straight wins.
- Six points guarantee Malaysia a top-three finish and a place in the 2027 Asia regional final.
FAQ
What was the score in Malaysia vs China? China were bowled out for 60 in 20 overs, and Malaysia replied with 63-4 in 7.2 overs to win by six wickets.
Have Malaysia qualified for the next round? Yes. With six points they cannot finish lower than third, and the top three advance to the 2027 Asia regional final.
Who else is in Malaysia's qualifying group? Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, Singapore, the Maldives and China make up Sub-Regional Asia Qualifier B with Malaysia.
Sources: ICC, The Sports Tak, CREX, Surprise Sports, Wikipedia