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When the three-team Singapore indoor cricket contingent left for Sri Lanka to compete in the Asia Cup earlier this month, they certainly didn’t expect each team to notch a victory before returning home.
Yet, as it so often is in sports, every dog will have its day. And the men’s open and masters (over 40+ years) teams, along with the unfancied women’s side, certainly had theirs in Colombo, earning wins against hosts Sri Lanka and perennial powerhouses India.
Though they were not victorious in the final standings, Team Singapore managed a string of firsts in the bi-annual competition, which also featured teams representing England.
It was the first time all three Singapore indoor cricket national teams registered wins in the Asia Cup, which has been held in Sri Lanka and the Republic over the last few years.
It was also the first time a women’s side competed in the tournament. And, it marked the first time the masters team and women’s team earned wins.
Playing a total of six games, the masters team defeated India twice, while the women’s side managed a shock victory over a Sri Lanka developmental side.
The men’s open team, which played eight games, also managed a win over Sri Lanka, despite finishing bottom of the five-team group.
Chairman of the Singapore Indoor Cricket Working Group (under NSA Singapore Cricket Association) Rashid Khan said the contingent always knew they could upset the top teams if they played their best.
“The masters team achieved what we expected of them – which was to beat India,” he said.
“As for the women’s team, the girls worked really hard, and we were all really pleased with how they played during the competition.”
While the men’s teams have been playing together for a few years now, the women’s side was formed only last year, said Khan. The roster even included players from the Under-14 and -15 sides.
Rachel Gnanaraj was one of the stand-outs for the Singapore women, scoring 99 runs across the team’s eight games. The 29-year-old captain said it was just “pure joy” at the end of their 85-48 win over Sri Lanka.
“Throughout the tournament we had so many challenges, but each challenge made us more determined to succeed,” she said.
“We also had a remarkable group of debutantes, who were very young. Our opponents were almost twice their age. Obviously, this group is going to get better as we play together more.”
Looking ahead to a world series masters tournament in October – also in Sri Lanka – Khan said the group aims to form a women’s team (over 30 years) for the competition.
“It’s a masters tournament with three categories for men (over 35+, 40+ and 45+) and women over 30, and we’d like to invite anyone to join us for training,” he said.
Interested cricketers can email indoor.cric@singaporecricket.org for more information.
