KABUL handed another 5-wicket stunning defeat to Namibia in their second One Day WCLC match, with 110 balls remaining, an official said on Sunday.
Captain Mohammad Nabi, who struck 46 runs for just 23 balls, ensured Mohammad Shahzad’s half-century and Hamid Hassan’s 4 wicket hail off 32 were match-winning efforts despite a middle-order collapse against Namibia, the Afghanistan Cricket Board spokesman, Farid Hotak told Pajhwok Afghan News.
He said Namibia took to a flying start, but Xander Pitchers, who was involved in two half-century stands, was stumped for 57. Wicketkeeper Raymond van Schoor and No. 3 batsman Stephan Baard took over after Pitchers.
However, Hassan brought Afghanistan back when he bowled top-scorer Baard for 67, which triggered a massive collapse. Namibia slumped from 174 for 3 to 193 all out as Hassan added three further wickets to his tally.
Shahzad and Nawroz Mangal scored 106 runs together to handsomely chase the 194 runs target. Namibia claimed three wickets in eight balls, including that of Shahzad who had struck seven fours and two sixes on his way to 62.
But there were not enough runs to defend as No. 6 Mohammad Nabi smashed 20 in four balls against medium pacer Christi Viljoen and left-arm spinner Bernard Scholtz to quell Namibia’s hopes. Nabi struck the winning runs, a six off Louis van der Westhuizen and sealed victory with 18 overs to spare.
Afghanistan are placed third on the World Cricket League Championship points table, with Netherlands above them.
Table-toppers Ireland have already qualified for the World Cup 2015. All the teams have two matches left to play with the top two sides progressing directly to the showpiece event in Australia, while the rest would have to face-off in a qualifying event next year.
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