Afghans score morale-boosting triumph

KABUL national cricket team defeated Scotland by 27 runs in the first T20 match of their series at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium last night, a board official said on Monday.

Afghanistan won the toss and chose to bat first in the tour opener, Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) spokesman Farid Hotak told Pajhwok Afghan News.

The national squad put 132 runs on board for the loss of seven wickets, with Shahzad Mohammadi contributing a superb 55, followed by Asghar Stanikzai with 30. Hotak said.

In reply, Scotland struggled to reach 105 runs for for five wickets in the stipulated overs, conceding Afghanistan a convincing and morale-boosting triumph, the spokesman said.

Skipper Muhammad Nabi was the pick of Afghan bowlers, capturing two wickets, with Samiullah Shinwari, Aftab Alam and Karim Sadiq bagging one wicket apiece.

Shahzad Mohammadi was declared the Man of the Match for his excellent batting that set the tone for Afghanistan’s victory. The second T20 contest is scheduled to be played at the same venue later in the day.

jhk/mud

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