KL start with a bang

KUALA Lumpur are well set to defend their Malaysian Cricket Premier League title after trouncing Penang by eight wickets in Georgetown on Sunday for their second win in as many matches.

KL also beat Penang by eight wickets on Saturday to join Selangor and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) with two wins apiece after the opening week of action.

Virandeep Singh and Ahmad Faiz Mohammed Noor, named player of the year and batsman of the year respectively at the Malaysian cricket awards on Friday, led KL to a comprehensive victory after losing two wickets without a run on the board.

Shafiq Sharif and Faizal Abu Hassan fell inside eight balls without scoring, bringing Virandeep (38) and Faiz (37) together as they plundered 77 runs in 11.4 overs to overhaul Penang’s meagre total of 76, thanks to Pavandeep’s four-wicket haul.

KL team manager Bala Nair said the team’s goal this year is to retain the trophy with a side which also includes new recruit Navantha Ratnayake, a bowler from Sri Lanka.

On Saturday, Faiz and Virandeep ended unbeaten on 48 and 34 respectively after openers Faris Almas-Lee Rosmanizam and Faizal went out early as KL reached 99-2 in reply to Penang’s 98 all out.

UKM edged Armed Forces by 17 runs in the opening match of the five-team league on Wednesday before beating the same team by 102 runs the next day.

Selangor, however, burst UKM’s bubble with a 19-run win under the Duckworth-Lewis method on Saturday after rain interrupted their chase of UKM’s 152 runs, leaving Selangor stranded on 74-2 after 21 overs.

Shajan Salim smashed three sixes and six fours in his 74 while Harinderjith Singh compiled 53 runs as Selangor routed Forces by 149 runs at the Kinrara Oval on Sunday for their second win.