Shenwari hero as Afghanistan post 1st WC win

KABUL Cup victory defeating Scotland by one wicket in the Pool-A clash in Dunedin on Thursday.

Jubilant Afghans at home celebrated their team’s victory in parts of the country by firing in the air and danced on drum beat.

Farid Hotak, spokesman of Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB), told Pajhwok Afghan News that Afghanistan team won the toss and invited the Scots rival to bat first.

The Afghan team looked on track to cruise to the winning total of 211 when they were 2 for 85 in the 19th over, but the wicket of Javed Ahmadi (51) sparked a rapid collapse. Scotland took five wickets in 5.3 overs to reduce Afghanistan to 7 for 97 in the 24th over.

Samiullah Shenwari (96) and Dawlat Zadran (9) batted safely but only put on 35 runs before Zadran attempted an ill-advised lofted drive.

Shenwari then went about batting Afghanistan to the unlikeliest of victories, pulling out some big hitting as he put on 60 runs with Hamid Hassan.

That left tail-enders Hassan and Zadran 19 balls to get 19 runs for victory, and Shapoor whipped a four off the third ball of the final over to hand Afghanistan a historic win.

Earlier, Scotland passed 200 for the first time at a World Cup, setting Afghanistan 211 runs to win after being sent in to bat.

Scotland’s innings was one of fits and starts as wickets fell in bunches, consolidated with promising partnerships, only to again lose batsmen in quick succession.

Opening bowlers Shapoor (4 for 38) and Dawlat (3 for 29) were right on target from the beginning, putting pressure on Scotland’s batsmen with their accurate line and length even if there was little movement in the air or off the pitch.

Scotland was 3 for 40 in the 12th over before Matt Machan (31) and Mommsen (23) put on a 53-run partnership, but they fell within six balls of each other. Berrington (25) and Matt Cross (15) then added 37 runs before their partnership was broken.

Davey followed two overs later before Berrington was well caught by wicketkeeper Afsar Zazai off another superb delivery from Dawlat that left the bowlers to see out the remaining 13 overs.

rm

Visits: 0