Afghanistan romp home in thriller against UAE

KABUL (Pajhwok): Afghanistan have scored a pulsating five-wicket triumph over the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in a thrilling match of the Desert T20 Challenge in Abu Dhabi.

Batting first, the hosts set Afghanistan a target of 147, with Shaiman Anwar hitting 52 — a run a ball. It was his fourth fifty on the trot, a third against Afghanistan, but his scoring rate was not up to the mark.

He was two-time lucky, once caught off a no ball off Dawlat Zadran on 12 and then dropped by Mohammed Nabi on 29, Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) spokesman Farid Hotak told Pajhwok Afghan News.

Leg-spinner Rashid Khan, who grabbed the wickets of Rameez Shahzad and Mohammed Usman, once again displayed his class. He gave away only 12 from his four overs, Hotak said.

While chasing the target, Samiullah Shinwari and Karim Janat gave the opposition a good leather hunt in the final overs. Needing 20 to win off the last 12 balls, they raced to the target with one over to spare, severely punishing Mohammed Shahzad.

Najibullah Zadran smashed a towering six over extra cover to hand Afghanistan their second win, sending a 5000-strong crowd into raptures. Some of the jubilant spectator tossed their headscarves and caps into the air.

To celebrate the team’s victory, some members of the crowd played pipes and others beat the drums, waiving Afghan flags at the Zayed Cricket Stadium.

In the previous match, the Afghans had thrashed Ireland, with Mohammad Nabi giving in a brilliant all-round performance, This time around time, however, the national side won as a result of a superb team effort.

Stanikzai and Shinwari drew on their experience in forging a 52-run partnership after Afghanistan slipped to 16 for two in the third over. They demonstrated patience and waited for bad balls to hit.

Despite their departure and Nabi’s dismissal in a space of 46 runs, Afghanistan romped home in the penultimate over. As a consequence of their second consecutive victory, Afghanistan are top the table with four points from two games.

Afghanistan, the pre-tournament favourites for, had impressive performances to boast of in 2016, beating the likes of the West Indies, Zimbabwe, Hong Kong and Scotland.

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