Afghanistan win as Hong Kong crash out
Nagpur, March 10
Afghanistan defeated Hong Kong by six wickets for their second straight win in the ICC World Twenty20 qualifier here today.
All-rounder Mohammad Nabi picked a four-wicket haul to help Afghanistan restrict Hong Kong to 116-6. They chased down the target in 18 overs after openers Mohammad Shahzad (41) and Noor Ali Zadran (32) shared a solid 70-run stand.
Afghanistan, who earlier beat Scotland, next meet Zimbabwe in a do-or-die match for both teams. Only the winner in either qualifying group qualifies for the tournament proper beginning on March 15. Hong Kong and Scotland are already out the reckoning from Group B.
The Hong Kong bowlers needed to strike early to have any chance of stopping Afghanistan nail down a modest target, but they failed to put pressure on openers Shahzad and Zaran. Shahzad was the aggressor in the partnership and came up with the big strokes regularly to the put the innings on a cruise mode.
Afghanistan raced to 43 in the first six overs and there was no stopping them thereafter. Shahzad perished while attempting another big one. His entertaining knock comprised four boundaries and couple of sixes. Afghanistan lost three quick wickets to make it 103-4 but they still got the job done comfortably.
Earlier, Hong Kong squandered a promising start to end up with a ordinary total. Their innings lost the plot
after the fall of openers Jamie Atkinson (16 off 20) and Ryan Campbell (27 off 24). They failed to get a move on thereafter despite an unbeaten 28 from Anshuman Rath.