THE national cricket team suffered a blow to their hopes of promotion from the World Cricket League Division Three after going down to a two-wicket defeat against Singapore at the Selangor Turf Club yesterday.
Even worse for Malaysia was an ankle injury to bowler Hassan Ghulam Mohammed, who is now doubtful for today's match against the United States at the Bayuemas Oval in Klang.
Hassan was Malaysia's best bowler yesterday after taking four wickets for 15 runs, including that of Singapore opener Arjun Mutreja (73), but only lasted 8.3 overs.
Singapore recovered from that setback at 151-5 to reach 199-8 in 48.5 overs to overhaul Malaysia's score of 198 all out as Saad Janjua led the visitors to the target with an unbeaten 32.
Earlier, Anwar Arudin (51) and captain Ahmad Faiz Mohammad Noor (57) hit half-centuries as Malaysia reached 151-4 when the skipper's dismissal triggered a collapse.
Faiz was one of Abhiraj Singh's three victims as Malaysia went on to add just 48 runs for the next five wickets to be all out in 47.3 overs.
"It was very close but when Hassan twisted his ankle that made a lot of difference," said Malaysia team manager Ahmad Feisal Ahmad Tajuddin yesterday.
"He was our best bowler and doing well and someone else had to finish his overs. All the batsmen were struggling against him and now we’ll have to see what the physio says for tomorrow."
Singapore’s win was their fifth in seven WCL meetings with Malaysia and avenged the Division Four final loss to the national team at Kallang in June.
In other matches, the US rolled over Bermuda by six wickets after dismissing their opponents for 106 while Mpho Mukobe scored 82 runs in Uganda's 20-run win over Nepal.
FIXTURES — Today: Bermuda v Nepal (STC), Malaysia v United States (Bayuemas), Singapore v Uganda (Kinrara). Matches start at 10.15am. By Devinder Singh