Singapore fight back to secure historic four-run win over Zimbabwe

Though no batsman made a half-century, Singapore were able to put up a strong total of 181/9 in an 18 over-a-side game thanks to contributions throughout their top order.

Rohan Rangarajan (39 off 22) and Surendran Chandramohan (23 off 17) gave their side a fast start, and though both fell in the same over, and Aritra Dutta followed not long after in single figures, a pair of 41s from Tim David and Manpreet Singh ensured the hosts marched on, and a flurry of late wickets only came about as Singapore attempted to maximise their run returns.

Ryan Burl was the pick of the Zimbabwe attack, picking the first three wickets to fall to bowlers, but needing more than 10 an over meant the tourists faced a tough task.

It looked for a time as if they might cruise to their target. It mattered little that Brian Chari made only a couple as Regis Chakabva crashed 48 off 19, while skipper Sean Williams and Tinotenda Mutombodzi built on his good work to take Zimbabwe to 142/2 in the 14th over.

Ahead of the rate, with two set batsmen, and with eight wickets in hand, Zimbabwe were in the driver’s seat against their less-fancied opposition, but all they needed was a sliver of opportunity, which they got when Mutombodzi was stumped off Aahan Achar.

Williams fell two overs later for 66, and all of a sudden Zimbabwe were in a scrap. Burl and Richmond Mutumbami fell in the penultimate over as the required rate crept up, and Sidhant Singh held his nerve, defending 10 off the final over to take his side to an historic win.