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Stanikzai leads Afghanistan to a six-wicket win

NAIROBI — Right-hand batsman Asghar Stanikzai scored an unbeaten 55 to lead Afghanistan to a six-wicket win over Kenya at the Nairobi Gymkhana Club grounds on Saturday to level the three-match series 1-1.

The 23-year-old reached his second career half century off 60 balls, which included three sixes and six boundaries, and shared an unbeaten fifth wicket partnership of 46 runs with Mirwais Ashraf.

But it was Ashraf (23) who scored the winning runs, hitting four straight boundaries off the hapless Kenyan medium-pacer, Nehemiah Odhiambo, who conceded 51 runs in an expensive six-over spell.

Set 140 to win, the Afghans, who lost the opening one-dayer by 92 runs last Thursday, got off to a flying start.

However, their efforts were slightly jolted when opener Noor Ali Zadran retired hurt and they lost two quick wickets, including that of skipper Nawroz Mangal, who made only one run before he was dispatched.

But Mohammad Shahzad (37), who replaced Zadran, steadied the innings before Stanikzai entered the stage.

Earlier spinner Samiullah Shemwari, bowling at leg-break pace, tore through the Kenyan middle order to restrict the home side, after debutant Izatullah Dawlatzai had made the early inroads by picking two early wickets.

Another debutant, Abdullah Mazari also entered his name in the record books, when he caught and bowled the new Kenyan captain, Jimmy Kamande without scoring a run.

The third and final match of the series will be played on Monday.

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