Malaysia has begun its ICC Trophy build-up in positive fashion, with a come from behind 2-1 series win over Singapore in the annual 50-over Stan Nagiah Trophy in Singapore recently.

For the Malaysians, favoured to snare one of two 'Super Eight' positions allocated to Second Division teams at this year's ICC Trophy, the series win was especially encouraging considering the absence of its overseas based players, including captain, Suresh Navaratnam. Singapore were without injured captain, Johan Pieris, and Australian-based batsmen, Andrew Scott and Joshua Dearing.

The visitors, also missing Shankar Retinam, Arul Suppiah and Rakesh Madhavan, began the series inauspiciously with a two wicket loss to Singapore in the opening match.

After winning the toss and electing to bat in overcast conditions, Malaysia crumbled to be all-out for 166 in 41.3 overs.

Although maintaining a good run-rate, Malaysia lost wickets regularly through bad shot selection. Typically, batsmen would get caught after establishing their innings.

Top-scorer for the Malaysians was opener, Yazid Imran, with 57, Singapore's best bowler was Kiran Deshpande, with 3-9 from 8 overs, including Yazid's wicket.

The star of the Singaporean innings, and the win, was newly discovered 18-year-old, Englishman, Morgan Lyles, an aggressive, hard-hitting all-rounder.

Lyles, who qualifies for Singapore through the birthplace clause, guided Singapore home with an impressive 35 not out.

An 85 run sixth wicket partnership between the experienced M.Muniandy and Navin Duriatnam saved Malaysia in the pivotal second match of the series at the Kallang Ground in Singapore.

After Malaysia vindicated its decision to put the home side in to bat, by removing Singapore for 130 in 38.5 overs, it then found itself in trouble at 54-5 after its first five batsmen all failed.

Muniandy (50 not out) and Navin Duriatnam (26 not out) after Muniandy was dropped in the slips early in his innings.

Stand-in Malaysian captain, Rohan Selvaratnam, and 16-year-old opening bowler, S.Vickneswaran had previously cut into the Singaporean batting, taking 3-16 and 3-14 respectively.

Balasubramaniam top scored for Singapore, unbeaten on 47, before running out of partners.

The last match of the series followed a familiar course, with Malaysia overcoming a top order collapse before Balasubramaniam top scored for Singapore.

Opener Suresh Singh, 72, having survived a rout of his fellow specialist batsmen, combined with Vickneswaran (26) to push the Malaysian total to 169 all-out in 43.2 overs.

Similar to the first game, the Malaysian batsmen failed to get themselves set before playing extravagantly.

An improved Malaysian bowling performance restricted the Singaporean reply, with the home side out for 126 for 34 overs.

Vickneswaran was reintroduced into the attack at the right time, remvoing Lyles after frustrating him into false play.

Balasubramaniam was the foundation of the Singaporean innings, with 44, before being caught and bowled by Ramesh Menon.

Both camps agreed Malaysia enjoyed a clear fitness advantage in a series which Singapore coach, Bruce Yardley, said featured "very ordinary cricket."

Both countries will meet again during the annual Tuanku Ja'Afar quadrangular series which starts in Bangkok, Thailand, on Wednesday. Hong Kong is the fourth team.

© 2001 CricInfo Ltd