Afghanistan March into Twenty20 Super Fours

ABU DHABI — Afghanistan marched into the Super Fours of the ICC World Twenty20 qualifiers with a win over third-seeded Scotland at the Shaikh Zayed International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.

By James Jose

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Published: Fri 12 Feb 2010, 12:49 AM

Last updated: Mon 6 Apr 2015, 2:31 AM

Sixth-seeded Afghanistan, who had shocked fancied and top seeded Ireland with a 13-run win in Dubai on Tuesday, defeated Scotland by 14 runs in the Group A fixture. Afghanistan had defeated Scotland twice in the ICC Cricket World Cup qualifier. They had beaten Ireland as well in the same tournament.

In another Group A fixture, Aditya Thyagarajan’s fighting 72 wasn’t enough as eight-seeded USA went down to Ireland by 78 runs. USA had started well in the tournament by stunning Scotland by six wickets on Tuesday. Ireland opener Niall O’Brien led the way with 84.

Opener Noor Ali led the charge for Afghanistan with an entertaining 42, while wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammed Shahzad chipped in with 30. Captain Nowroz Mangal and Raees Ahmadzai too came up with useful contributions.

Among the bowlers, Hamid Hassan was the pick of the bowlers taking three wickets, while Mohammed Nabi took two wickets.

Put into bat, Afghanistan made 131 for the loss of seven wickets in their 20 overs. Opener Noor Ali clubbed four boundaries and a six in his 37-ball 42 despite wickets falling at regular intervals. Afghanistan had lost two quick wickets to Gordon Drummond in his first over but Noor Ali and Mohammed Shahzad rescued them with a 71-run partnership.

No.4 wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammed Shahzad made 30 from 40 balls with one boundary. Captain Nowroz Mangal scored a 16-ball 18 with one six before he was castled by Nel. Kyle Coetzer took three wickets conceding 25 runs to derail Afghanistan a bit. Afghanistan were 116 for 7 in the 19th over, but Raees Ahmadai and Mirwais Ashraf took them to 131.

Raees Ahmadai made an unbeaten 17 from 13 balls, while Mirwais Ashraf was unbeaten on eight from three balls with one six.

In reply, Scotland, who were smarting over the defeat to USA on Tuesday, found the going tough against Hamid Hassan. Scotland were restricted to 117 for 9 in their 20 overs despite a 66-run stand between Gavin Hamilton and Neil McCallum. McCallum top scored for Scotland with 38, while Hamilton made 32.

Noor Ali was adjudged the Man of the Match.

In the other game, Ireland, opting to bat, piled on a mammoth 202 for the loss of four wickets in their 20 overs, with opener Niall O’Brien top scoring with 84 from 50 balls. He clubbed 10 boundaries and two sixes in his knock.

He and captain William Porterfield put on 83 runs for the opening wicket. Porterfield scored 45 from 28 balls with five boundaries and a six. One down batsman Alec Cusack made 46 from 30 balls with two boundaries and two sixes. USA’s Timroy Allen took 2-29.

USA were never really in the hunt, in reply, with wickets falling in a heap. They were six down for 25 runs before Aditya Thyagarajan and Orlando Baker lent some respectability to the total. Thyagarajan made a fighting 72 from 67 balls with 11 boundaries, with his half-century coming in 49 balls, with nine boundaries. Baker made 28 from 31 balls with one six.

Ireland pacer Peter Connell ripped the USA batting order with four wickets for 14 runs from his four overs, while new ball partner Trent Johnston took two wickets.

james@khaleejtimes.com


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