Defending a total of just 99 runs, Bulgaria pulled off a thrilling last-ball victory over the Czech Republic on the opening morning of the tournament.

Needing a boundary from the final ball to tie the match, Benjamin Soucek was unable to make the necessary contact and Bulgaria was able to celebrate a victory that had seemed improbable just a few overs earlier when the Czech batsmen were in the driving seat at 77 for three.

Bulgaria's total was due almost entirely to the efforts of opening batsman Stuart Clarkson who was the seventh man out at 77, of which he had contributed 41. Indeed, he was the only batsman on his side to reach double figures as Scott Paige took four for 14. Sivagnanam Gnanatheeswaran also produced an excellent spell with the ball, conceding just ten runs in his four overs as he claimed three victims.

Although Czech opener Damian Kysely fell to Clarkson with the score on just 2, the total moved along steadily against accurate bowling from Clarkson and Mishra. When the third wicket fell at 43, Brigham Smith joined Scott Paige who had been batting confidently and appeared to be well in control of the situation. In just 21 balls, Smith hit two fours and three sixes and quickly took his side within sight of victory.

However, when he was caught by Clarkson, Paige followed just one run later and Bulgaria were back in the game. Four wickets then fell very rapidly and the Czech Republic found themselves with their last pair at the wicket and 12 runs still needed. Soucek and Sunil Kumar Ambar had almost three overs remaining but found the bowling of Mushtaq Lone just too tight.

For Bulgaria, Clarkson took two wickets for just eight runs, while Prakash Mishra and Mohamad Hanif conceded just 28 runs as they claimed five wickets between them in the middle of the innings.