Asian sub-regional qualifying for next year's Men's T20 World Cup got underway today in Kuala Lumpur and saw history made in the opening match between the hosts and China.

China, playing their first match in almost five years, won the toss and chose to bat first. The opening pairing of Wei Guo Lei and Wang Liuyang put on 12 before Syazrul Idrus was brought on to bowl. Swinging the ball in to the right hander, he bowled Lei from the first ball of the fifth over, and bowled three more before the over had finished.

Another wicket came from his next and he ended his spell with a double wicket maiden, finishing with remarkable figures of 7 wickets for just 8 runs. Even more remarkably, all seven wickets were bowled. He is the first man to take seven wickets in a T20I, with two beating him to the mark in women's T20Is. China were bowled out for 23.

Both Malaysian openers were dismissed for ducks but that was the extent of the damage to the Malaysian chase as they knocked off the runs in 4.5 overs to win by eight wickets.

In the second game of the day, Bhutan batted first after winning the toss against Myanmar and scored 105, their last wicket falling from the last ball of the innings. Pyae Phyo Wai was the pick of the bowlers with 3-29. Only two Myanmar players reached double figures in their reply as they were restricted to 74-9, losing by 31 runs.

The five team tournament from which one team will progress to the Asian final later this year continues tomorrow, with Thailand playing their first game as they take on China. Hosts Malaysia will play Bhutan in the second game.