A 54 run partnership for the 5th wicket between Turkey captain Muhammad Assim (26*) and Nabeel Munir (39) proved the decisive factor in yet another thrilling encounter in the ICC European Division 3 Championship at Valburg.

Having been set a modest target of 100, the Turks struggled in the face of some accurate Bulgarian bowling, backed up by athletic fielding, and some breathtaking catches.

Indeed at the halfway juncture of the Turkish reply, Bulgaria was strong favourites, having reduced their opponents to 38 for 4. Despite the best efforts of Prakash Mishra (2-14), Saif ur-Reham (2-25), Turkey got home with three balls to spare as skipper Aasim held his nerve to strike the winning boundary.

It could all have been so different for Bulgaria as Aasim was dropped with still 17 required and three overs left.

In the Bulgarian innings, four players reached doubled figures, but none went on to make the truly substantive innings required to give them what would have proved a match winning total. Prakash Mishra (21), Vladamir Ruskov (13), Ivaylo Dunchev (12*), and Saif ur-Rehman (12) were their main batsmen as they scored exactly 100 in their allotted overs, helped by 22 extras.

There were two wickets apiece for Razak (2-18) and Munir (2-30), with Haider (1-14), and Salman (1-17) the other wicket takers. Mecit Turkmenoglu was the most impressive conceding just 11 runs in his spell which put pressure on the incoming batsmen.

Turkey now face the Czech Republic in Velden tomorrow, while Bulgaria will look to bounce back in their game with Estonia at Valburga.