Singapore was crowned as the champion of the Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Division 5 (WCL Div. 5) today after the host defeated Malaysia in the final of the event.

In the other play-off fixtures today, Bahrain defeated Argentina in the fifth/sixth play-off and in the third/fourth play-off between Guernsey and Cayman Islands, Guernsey came out the victor thus giving the side a new global ranking of 31st and Cayman Islands 32nd.

A consolation for Bahrain’s relegation from the division is that batsman and occasional off-spinner Adil Hanif claimed Player of the Tournament after the 33-year-old amassed 265 runs at an average of 44.16. Hanif was the top run-scorer at the event and the diminutive right-hander also took six wickets during the tournament.

At the marquee fixture of the tournament – Singapore took on local rivals Malaysia in the hotly anticipated final of the event. On the hottest day of the event so far, the teams were watched by at least a 100 supporters of both the local side as well as Malaysia.

Having won the toss, Malaysia captain Suresh Navaratnam elected to bat, a decision he would perhaps later regret after an abysmal batting collapse from the side’s middle order. The team ended up being all out for just 159, far too small a total on a ground such as Kallang.

In reply, Singapore always looked confident and the Singaporean crowd grew in size post-lunch with the knowledge that they were set to take home the title.

Chaminda’s skill with the bat was highlighted even more so when the 32-year-old smashed his way to 91 not out in an innings that included 14 boundaries and one six, the man-of-the-match was the second highest run-scorer in the tournament, knocking off some 243 runs during the week. In the support role today after Suryawanshi’s departure was Anish Param, the 21-year-old patiently supporting his senior to guide the team to victory with his 44 not out.

Guernsey defeated Cayman Islands in a last over thriller that saw the Channel Island come out the victor by just one run despite a valiant effort by Cayman Islands’ Pearson Best.

Guernsey’s only real run-making skills came from stalwart Jeremy Frith after Cayamanian fast bowler Troy Taylor had worked his magic through the struggling batting line-up of the Division 6 qualifiers. Taylor combined with Ryan Bovell and Conroy Wright to dismiss the side for 186 runs, a total that should have been far less had the Caribbean side not given away some 49 extras.

In reply, Cayman Islands attempted to chase down the target but young David Hooper of Guernsey had other ideas despite Best’s attempt.

The 20-year-old medium pacer snaffled five wickets to make him the top wicket-taker of the event with 17 wickets at an average of 9.94 0 his best figures coming today when he took 5-47 including three top order batsmen. The task of dismissing Best, who ground out 79 runs in 97 balls fell to veteran bowler Gary Rich who tempted the all-rounder into hitting the ball into the safe hands of Tim Ravenscroft.

After Best’s departure Wright, Bovell and the bottom order tried its hardest but Hooper had other plans – clean bowling Taylor with one ball to go and delivering another loss to Cayman Islands.

Scores in brief (Final Day)

Kallang (1st/2nd play-off)
Malaysia 159 all out, 47 overs (Madhavan 48, Hassan 33; Janik 3-17)
Singapore 164-1, 26.4 overs (Chaminda 91 not out, Param 44 not out)
Singapore won by nine wickets
Player of the Match: Chaminda Ruwan (Singapore)

Singapore Cricket Club (3rd/4th play-off)
Guernsey 186 all out, 47.2 overs (Frith 57; Taylor 4-50, Bovell 3-41)
Cayman Islands 185 all out, 49.5 overs (Best 79, Wright 39; Hooper 5-47)
Guernsey won by one run
Player of the Match: David Hooper (Guernsey)

Indian Association
Argentina 139 all out, 43.3 overs (Siri 26; Hanif 4-30, Zafar 4-32)
Bahrain 141-5, 20.4 overs (Ashraf 34, Hanif 38; Musiani 2-40)
Bahrain won by six wickets
Player of the Match: Adil Hanif (Bahrain)