Afghanistan progress in U-19 WC, beat PNG

KABUL Cup in Australia, an official said on Sunday.

PNG chose to bat, setting a target of 240 runs for Afghanistan, the national team’s manager, Sher Agha Hamkar told Pajhwok Afghan News from Australia over the telephone.

An unbeaten century from PNG captain Christopher Kent went in vain as Afghanistan’s lower middle order held their nerve to chase down the target.

PNG batsmen were in some trouble at 138 for five in 35 overs, before Nigel Boge joined Kent at the crease. The pair added 101 runs in the final 15 overs, with Kent finishing unbeaten on 105 and Boge 55.

In the chase, Afghanistan were 59 for the loss of three wickets and then 159 for six wickets in the 40^th over. Mohibullah Pak and Afsar Khan knocked off the remaining 81 runs briskly – with five sixes between them – to carry Afghanistan home with four wickets and an over to spare.

The results mean Afghanistan and Scotland progress to the semi-finals of the ninth-place play-off, where they will take on the winners of Monday’s Ireland-Namibia and Nepal-Sri Lanka games. PNG and Zimbabwe, meanwhile, will now be in contention for 13th place.

Pak contributed 58, followed by Afsar Zazi with 38, Noorul Haq 34 and Najibullah Zadran 32. Aftab Alam got two wickets, while Javed Ahmadi one.

ma

Visits: 6