China and Myanmar are usually to be found together at the bottom of lists issued by human rights organisations, but yesterday they were at the bottom of the ACC Trophy Challenge, fighting it out to avoid finishing last.

China batted first after being put in by Myanmar, and they got a good start for a change, reaching 153/4 at around the 30 over mark. But they then collapsed, Aye Min Than bowling particularly well to take 4/54 as China were bowled out for 181 in 39.3 overs. The total was more than China's three previous scores combined.

In reply, Myanmar struggled as usual. Aye Min Than was the only batsmen to reach double figures, and even he was outscored by extras. Li Jian was the pick of the Chinese bowlers, taking 4/16 as Myanmar were bowled out for 63, losing by 118 runs.

Whilst China will be undoubtedly happy to have secured their first win, it must be put in some perspective. Myanmar are, by a country mile, the worst team in this tournament, and probably the world. Just the other day, they were bowled out for twelve by Oman.

Also, extras was the top scorer for China in each of their four matches in this tournament, and their tactical nous leaves a lot to be desired. Whilst the calibre of their coaches on paper is high, the quality of instruction they are receiving needs to be questioned - according to some they didn't even know what a powerplay was at the start of the tournament.

Maybe we are being unfair on China by expecting them to succeed straight away, but nobody would be saying anything if their hadn't been so much money poured into Chinese cricket, if their hadn't been so much hype around China and if people hadn't been tipping China to reach Test status in the near future.

It is doubtful that anyone will be backing China for Test status on the back of this performance, and hopes of qualification for the 2019 World Cup, as originally hoped for a couple of years ago, seem to be on the back-burner now too, with the goal being the more realistic target of qualifying for the top ACC Trophy division by 2014.

But whatever happens in the future, for the present, the ICC will have to live with the fact that their big hope for the future are currently one of the worst teams in the world. And they've been exposed on a big stage too. Normally the mainstream press wouldn't touch a tournament like this with the proverbial ten foot barge pole, but because of all the hoopla over China, their performance has attracted attention from media around the world. The China "project" is one of the reasons why the development programme is viewed with suspicion and is often criticised. China's four matches this last week will have done nothing to quell that criticism.

Before I forget, there was another match yesterday too! In the fifth place play-off, Iran beat Brunei by 52 runs, thanks to Shirmohammad Baloochnezad's innings of 74.