KUCHING: The Sarawak SUKMA men’s T20 cricket team is determined to end a 20-year medal dry spell after securing a victory against Melaka today (Aug 14).
Sarawak, competing in Group B, started on the right foot in this tournament, successfully securing a victory with a score of 67/3 in just 8.1 overs with 7 wickets compared to Melaka’s 66/8 over 20.
Sarawak head coach, Chew Pok Cheong, expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance stating the team executed their plan perfectly today.
“Winning the toss was crucial, and we aimed to secure a victory within the first 60 deliveries, which we did.
“Tomorrow, we face Kelantan. The strategy will be similar. We observed that Kelantan managed to score 176 against Federal Territory, which is a high target.
“Our goal is to restrict them to under 100 deliveries and then chase down the target,” he said.
Reflecting on the competition, he noted the unpredictable nature of cricket, pointing out that traditionally strong teams like Perak and Kuala Lumpur are also vying for semifinal spots.
“Cricket is a funny game. Even strong teams can have off days, so we need to stay focused and give our best in every match,” he said.
Sarawak last won a medal in the T20 format in 2004, and the team is eager to change that this year.
“We’re aiming for at least a bronze in the T20, but if we make it to the semifinals, we’ll push hard to secure a medal of any colour,” he said.
The match today also saw an outstanding performance by 18-year-old Mohammad Hariz Afnan Sulhie, contributing five of the seven wickets and one hatrick over the opponent.
