China was bowled out for a humiliating 28 on Saturday as it crashed to a 390-run defeat against Saudi Arabia in a World Cricket League regional qualifier.
The paltry total was seven runs worse than the record for a full one-day international of 35 made by Zimbabwe against Sri Lanka in 2004.
Saudi Arabia piled up 418 off 50 overs before China's outclassed batsmen collapsed to just 28 all out in 12.4 overs with 'extras' the top scorer on 13.
Shahbaz Rasheed made a run a ball fifty and Mohammad Afzal completed a 100 from 91 balls with 13 fours and two sixes but the real fireworks came from captain Shoaib Ali who took only 24 balls to reach his fifty and was dismissed for 91 from just 41 balls with 10 fours and six sixes.
It was a thrilling morning's cricket and the Chinese bowlers and fielders can take great credit for keeping going for so long when it was taking heavy punishment and they were rewarded as it bowled out Saudi Arabia from the last ball of the innings. A total of 418 all out in 50 overs is a rare event and Feng Yu had the remarkable figures of 5 for 89 in 10 overs as China took the last five wickets for just 20 runs.
China had little option but to try to bat for as long as possible as it had no realistic chance of victory but it came up against an impressive trio of bowlers. Ibrar ul Haq took 3 for eight in his 4 over spell with the new ball but the Saudi spinners really had the Chinese batsmen in trouble from the moment they came on to bowl.
Leg-spinner Imran Arif claimed three wickets for just two runs as he took two wickets in two balls in his fourth over, then next over off-spinner Shahbaz Rasheed finished the match off with a hat-trick as three Chinese tail-enders were beaten for pace and were all comprehensively bowled. Saudi Arabia has made an impressive start to the tournament as it looks to gain promotion to WCL Division 5 but there will be sterner tests ahead against stronger teams.
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