HISTORIC EFFORT: The U-12 cricket team posing with manager Mutalib Hussain (standing left) and coach Silimun Buyung Ulis (right) before the quarterfinal match.
KUCHING: Sarawak beat Perlis by 98 runs to qualify for the Boys’ Under-12 quarter-finals of the Malaysian Schools Cricket Competition at the Westlands Sports Excellence Centre in George Town yesterday.
This is the first time Sarawak has reached the last eight of any age-group competition at the national level.
“ It is a historical achievement for the boys and Sarawak Cricket Association (SCA) since we took part in the competition in 2003,” said coach Silimun Buyung.
Sarawak who won the toss elected to bat and managed 117 runs in the allotted 25 overs.
Perlis were bundled out for just 19 runs.
Manager Mutalib Hussain and coach Silimun Buyung were very pleased with the performance and promised that they would do their best in the remaining games.
Earlier in the tournament, the team shocked Negeri Sembilan with 114 runs when they drew to hit in the first inning and only lost one run to Negeri Sembilan.
In earlier matches Sarawak beat Kedah and Perlis but lost to Selangor in the group preliminary round.
SCA president Awang Mahyan Awang Mohammed said that the Boys’ U-12 team would be sent to compete in the Tun Ahmad Sarji Shield Cricket Championship to be held in Kuala Lumpur in June.