SUHAN Kumar Alagaratnam scored his first international century in six years in leading Malaysia to third place in the World Cricket League Division Three after a seven-wicket victory over Singapore in Klang yesterday.
Former national captain Suhan plundered 101 runs for his third century — but first since 2008 — to guide Malaysia to 172 for 3 in 32.3 overs and overhaul Singapore’s total of 169 from 48 overs.
The win at the Bayuemas Oval, a ground where the national team won eight of 10 matches this year, helped Malaysia move up two rungs to 23rd in the ICC world rankings having started 2014 ranked 29th in Division Five.
The last time Suhan hit a ton was at the 2008 ACC Trophy Elite in back-to-back wins against Saudi Arabia and Singapore, the latter also in Klang,
After he was dropped from Wednesday’s defeat against Nepal, Suhan was not only restored to the line up but also promoted to open the innings with Anwar Arudin and returned the favour by hitting a magnificent six to bring up his hundred in 91 balls.
“It was a good team win and the bowlers did very well to restrict Singapore to below 170 runs,” said Suhan, who lasted just five more balls before being bowled by Arjun Mutreja having hit 12 fours and four sixes.
Pavandeep Singh, 16, starred with the ball for Malaysia as he took three wickets for 43 runs — the national junior’s best bowling figures at senior level — and had Singapore’s top scorer Christopher Janik trapped leg before for 63 runs.
Shahrulnizam Yusof and Shekh Nasir Shafiq chipped in with two wickets before Suhan and captain Ahmad Faiz Mohammad Noor (46) put on a 110-run stand for the second wicket to pace Malaysia to victory.
Malaysia and Singapore both remain in Division Three, which will be played again in 2017 at the latest, while Nepal defeated Uganda by 62 runs in the final to emerge the division champions with both going up to Division Two. By Devinder Singh