Tuanku Ja'afar Cup

The Tuanku Ja'afar Cup was a cricket tournament contested by the national sides of Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. It is named in honour of Tuanku Jaafar, the current Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan and Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King of Malaysia) between 1994 and 1999.Encyclopedia of World Cricket by Roy Morgan, Sports Books Publishing, 2006]

History

The tournament was first played in 1991, not involving Thailand, to help the other three countries prepare for the ICC Trophy. Thailand joined the competition in the second year, and the four teams played annually until 2004, with Thailand missing in 1998 and 1999, when just three teams played, and 2002, when they were replaced by Hong Kong A. Hong Kong have won the tournament the most times, winning nine of the 14 tournaments played. Malaysia have won four times, whilst Singapore have won just once.

1991 tournament

The first Tuanku Ja'afar Cup was played on a league basis with no final. Hong Kong won the tournament, with Singapore as runners-up.

1992 tournament

The second Tuanku Ja'afar Cup saw Thailand play for the first time. Hong Kong were again the winners, with Malaysia runners-up this time.

1993 tournament

The 1993 Tuanku Ja'afar Cup was the last to be played without a final. Hong Kong won the third consecutive time. Singapore were runners-up.

1994 tournament

The 1994 tournament was the first to have a final after the initial league phase. Hong Kong and Singapore topped the table after the group stage, and with Hong Kong unbeaten on home turf and with a 107 run win over Singapore under their belts, they were favourites to lift the cup, but Singapore triumphed in the final by two wickets.

Final result

Limited Overs Matches
date = 20 November 1994
team1 = cr-rt|Hong Kong
score1 = 234/8 (50 overs)
score2 = 236/8 (49 overs)
team2 = cr|Singapore
runs1 = Stewart Brew 73
wickets1 = Kiran Deshpande 3/51
runs2 = Mohammed Naushad 53
wickets2 =
result = cr|Singapore won by 2 wickets
report =
venue = Wong Chung Nai Gap, Hong Kong
umpires =
motm =
rain =

1995 tournament

The 1995 tournament was won by Malaysia for the first time. They beat Hong Kong in the final.

1996 tournament

The tournament was held in Singapore for the second time in 1996, with Hong Kong beating the hosts by 20 runs in the final. Malaysia finished third and Thailand finished last. [ [http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1996/OTHERS+ICC/JAFAAR/JAFAAR_JUN1996_RESULTS-SUMMARY.html 1996 Tuanku Ja'afar Cup] at Cricinfo] The tournament saw some record performances in the match between Hong Kong and Thailand. Hong Kong scored 415/5, the highest team score in the history of the competition. Riaz Farcy scored 178 in that match, the highest individual score in the history of the competition.

Final result

Limited Overs Matches
date = 30 June 1996
team1 = cr-rt|Hong Kong
score1 = 296/7 (50 overs)
score2 = 277 all out (48.2 overs)
team2 = cr|Singapore
runs1 = Stewart Brew 88
wickets1 = A Vijay 2/26
runs2 = A Vijay 61
wickets2 = Mohammad Zubair 3/38
result = cr|Hong Kong won by 20 runs
report = [http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1996/OTHERS+ICC/JAFAAR/HKG_SPORE_JAFAAR-FINAL_30JUN1996.html Scorecard]
venue = CSC, Singapore
umpires = Rangachari Vijayaraghavan, WAU Wickramasinghe
motm = Rahul Sharma
rain =

1997 tournament

The 1997 tournament was won by Malaysia for the second time. They beat Singapore in the final. This was the first tournament in which Hong Kong didn't finish in the top two.

1998 tournament

Thailand did not participate in the 1998 tournament, with their place taken by a HKCA President's XI. Hong Kong won on home soil, beating Singapore in the final. The KJCA President's XI finished third, with Malaysia in last place. [ [http://www.cricinfo.com/link_to_database/ARCHIVE/1998-99/OTHERS+ICC/HKG_LOCAL/TJ_HK_DEC98.html 1998 Tuanku Ja'afar Cup official webpage] ]

Final result

Limited Overs Matches
date = 12 June 1998
team1 = cr-rt|Hong Kong
score1 = 219/9
score2 = 198 all out
team2 = cr|Singapore
runs1 = Mark Davies 36
wickets1 = Andrew Scott 3/41
runs2 = Johann Pieris 70
wickets2 = Saleem Malik 3/37
result = cr|Hong Kong won by 21 runs
report =
venue = Kowloon Cricket Club
umpires =
motm = Joshua Dearing
rain =

1999 tournament

The 1999 tournament in Kuala Lumpur was one affected by rain. The first round match between Hong Kong and Malaysia was completely abandoned, and the other two matches were both reduced. The final was washed out in Hong Kong's innings against Malaysia. Hong Kong were awarded the title as they were top of the group stage. Thailand were again absent, but they were not replaced this time. [ [http://www.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1998-99/OTHERS+ICC/HKG_LOCAL/INTERNATIONAL.html HKCA 1998/99 International cricket] ]

2000 tournament

The 2000 tournament was held in Singapore, and Thailand played for the first time since 1997. Malaysia won the tournament, beating Hong Kong in the final. Singapore finished third and Thailand finished last. [ [http://www.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1999-2000/OTHERS+ICC/HKG_LOCAL/INTERNATIONAL.html#Results HKCA 1999/2000 International cricket] ]

Final result

Limited Overs Matches
date = 21 May 2000
team1 = cr-rt|Malaysia
score1 = 243 all out
score2 = 113 all out
team2 = cr|Hong Kong
runs1 = Suresh Navaratnam 49
wickets1 = Sher Lama 4/48
runs2 = Jawaid Iqbal 42
wickets2 = Ramesh Menon 4/12
result = cr|Malaysia won by 130 runs
report =
venue = Kallang Cricket Club
umpires =
motm =
rain =

2001 tournament

Like the 1999 tournament, the 2001 tournament in Thailand was heavily affected by the rain. Hong Kong won the tournament despite only playing one match, due to a superior net run rate in the opening round of matches, which was the only one completed. [ [http://www.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2000-01/OTHERS+ICC/HKG_LOCAL/INTERNATIONAL.html#TJC2001 HKCA 2000/01 International cricket] ]

2002 tournament

The 2002 tournament was hosted and won by Hong Kong, who beat Singapore in the final. Thailand withdrew from the tournament, and were replaced by Hong Kong A. [ [http://www.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2002-03/OTHERS/HKG_LOCAL/TJC/ 2002 tournament official site] ] The Hong Kong A side did not participate in the tournament proper, playing un-official matches [ [http://www.cricinfo.com/link_to_database/ARCHIVE/2002-03/OTHERS/HKG_LOCAL/TJC/TJC_POINTS.html 2002 tournament points table] ] against Malaysia and Singapore, though the match against Singapore was rained off. [ [http://www.cricinfo.com/link_to_database/ARCHIVE/2002-03/OTHERS/HKG_LOCAL/TJC/TJC_DRAW.html 2002 tournament results summary] ]

Points table

Final result

Limited Overs Matches
date = 1 December 2002
team1 = cr-rt|Hong Kong
score1 = 217/7 (30 overs)
score2 = 169 all out
team2 = cr|Singapore
runs1 = Rahul Sharma 40
wickets1 = Arun Vijayan 2/38
runs2 = G Nayarnan 38
wickets2 = Mohammad Zubair 4/17
result = cr|Hong Kong won by 48 runs
report =
venue = Hong Kong Cricket Club
umpires =
motm = Mohammad Zubair
rain = Rain reduced the match to 30 overs per side

2003 tournament

The 2003 tournament was held in Kuala Lumpur. Thailand returned after missing the 2002 tournament and Hong Kong won for the third consecutive year, beating Malaysia in the final. [ [http://www.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2003-04/OTHERS/HKG_LOCAL/TJC2003.html 2003 tournament at HKCA website] ]

Final result

Limited Overs Matches
date = 7 September 2003
team1 = cr-rt|Hong Kong
score1 = 218/8 (48 overs)
score2 = 167/9 (38 overs)
team2 = cr|Malaysia
runs1 = Ilyas Gul 80
wickets1 = Rohan Selvaratnam 2/27
runs2 = Rakesh Madhavan 40
wickets2 = Ilyas Gul 3/32
result = cr|Hong Kong won by 16 runs (D/L Method)
report =
venue = RSC, Kuala Lumpur
umpires =
motm = Ilyas Gul
rain = Rain meant that Malaysia's target was set at 201 from 38 overs

2004 tournament

The final tournament was held in Singapore in May 2004. Malaysia won after beating Hong Kong in the final. [ [http://www.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2003-04/OTHERS/HKG_LOCAL/TJC2004.html 2004 tournament at HKCA website] ] With Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore having increasing international commitments in tournaments such as the ACC Premier League, ACC Twenty20 Cup and ACC Trophy, it seems unlikely that the tournament will return to the schedules.

Final result

Limited Overs Matches
date = 16 May 2004
team1 = cr-rt|Hong Kong
score1 = 138 all out
score2 = 139/5
team2 = cr|Malaysia
runs1 = Ilyas Gul 50
wickets1 = S Jayawardhana 3/27
runs2 = Suresh Navaratnam 60
wickets2 =
result = cr|Malaysia won by 5 wickets
report =
venue = Kallang Cricket Club
umpires =
motm = Suresh Navaratnam
rain =

Records

*Highest team score: 415/5 by Hong Kong against Thailand, 1996
*Lowest team score: 63 all out by Thailand against Malaysia, 2004
*Highest individual score: 178 by Riaz Farcy for Hong Kong against Thailand, 1996
*Best bowling in an innings: 7/15 by Roy Lamsam for Hong Kong against Singapore, 2004

ee also

*Saudara Cup - an annual three-day match played between Malaysia and Singapore
*Stan Nagaiah Trophy - an annual series of one-day matches played between Malaysia and Singapore
*ACC Trophy - a biennial one-day tournament involving all national teams from Asia
*ACC Twenty20 Cup - a biennial tournament, similar to the ACC Trophy but playing Twenty20 cricket.

References