Malaysia Top Group B As Asian Games Quarter-Finals Are Set

Malaysia finished top of Group B at the Asian Games after rain wiped out their match against Oman at Korogi Sports Park on Saturday. The abandonment handed Malaysia a point. It took them to three, and it settled the last qualifying place in the men's competition. Oman are out. All four Asian Games cricket quarter-finals are now confirmed, and they run across 28 and 29 September.

It was the second washout of the day at the same ground. Rain had already ended Nepal's match against Japan that morning. IANS reported that the Malaysia fixture was abandoned before a toss took place.

Rain closes Group B

Malaysia had done the work on the opening day. They beat Hong Kong, China by eight wickets. That win gave them two points and a net run rate the rest of the group could not match. IANS put it at plus 2.950. Saturday's point made it three.

Hong Kong, China answered with a 41-run win over Oman on 25 September. Two points took them second. Oman finished on one point and no wins. They were eliminated without getting the chance to bat.

Two of Saturday's matches at Korogi Sports Park were abandoned. Neither Japan nor Oman batted in them. Both are going home.

Both groups end three, two, one

Group A had closed the same way earlier in the day. Nepal took three points, Afghanistan two, Japan one. Group B produced the identical spread. In each group the side that lost its only completed match went home, and in each group a no result was worth more than a defeat.

Japan, the host nation, lost to Afghanistan by 48 runs on the opening day. That was the only game they finished. Oman's was the defeat by Hong Kong, China. Neither side had a second result to lean on once the weather closed in.

The last eight, and when they play

India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka were seeded into the quarter-finals on rankings and played no group cricket. The other six teams were split into two groups of three for a single round robin. The top two in each group went through. That produces four ties over two days, all at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin.

• Pakistan against Hong Kong, China, 28 September, 9.00am local
• India against Afghanistan, 28 September, 1.30pm local
• Sri Lanka against Nepal, 29 September, 9.00am local
• Bangladesh against Malaysia, 29 September, 1.30pm local

Three Associate Members in the draw

Malaysia, Hong Kong, China and Nepal are ICC Associate Members. All three are in the last eight. Afghanistan, the fourth side to come through the groups, is a Full Member, as are the four seeds. Topping Group B sent Malaysia to Bangladesh on Tuesday afternoon. Hong Kong, China drew Pakistan first thing on Monday.

The semi-finals are on 1 October. The bronze and gold medal matches follow on 3 October. Every team that wins on Monday or Tuesday reaches a semi-final, and every semi-finalist has a medal match to play.