Brilliant Nabi takes Afghanistan to victory over Hong Kong in thriller
A brilliant all-round performance by Mohammad Nabi lifted Afghanistan to a thrilling four wicket victory over Hong Kong at the Anadil Burhani ground today.
Hong Kong Cricket Association
08-Oct-2008
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Hong Kong's skipper Tabarak Dar maintained his 100% win record with the toss and elected to bat, despite early morning thunderstorms causing a slight delay to the start time.
Dar and Roy Lamsam opened the innings and Lamsam showed some early intent by crashing three boundaries in the second over of the day. Dar was the first to fall in the 7th over with the total on 25. Lamsam progressed his score to 35 from 46 balls when he was bowled by Hamid Hassan with the score on 68 after 18 overs. Butt Hussain joined Zain Abbas and the two combined in a partnership worth 84 runs. They moved the score along to 152 when Abbas became Mohammad Nadi's first victim of the day. Hussain fell shortly afterwards for 34 which precipitated a minor collapse as Hong Kong pushed for quick runs in the last few overs. Nabi was the main benefactor, grabbing four more victims as Hong Kong finished on 206-9 from their 50 overs with Waqas Barkat providing a valuable unbeaten 12 runs from 8 balls at the death. Mohammad Nabi finished with the impressive figures of 5-32 from his nine overs.
Afghanistan's reply got off to a brisk start with Karim Khan taking three boundaries from Irfan Ahmed's opening over. But Khan fell soon afterwards when Nadeem Ahmed was introduced to the attack. Moner Ahmed claimed Ahmad Shah in the 18th over and when Asghar Stanikzai was run out soon after, Afghanistan were teetering at 48-3 off 19 overs. The Afghanistan skipper Nowroz Mangal was then joined by bowling hero Mohammad Nabi and the two set about rebuilding their chase. The two stuck together for nearly 21 overs, compiling a partnership worth 105 runs. They took a particular liking to the Ahmed brothers, with Nadeem conceding 49 runs from his 10 overs while Irfan surrendered 59 from his 8.4 overs. Mangal brought up his half century off 65 balls but fell immediately afterwards to a sharp stumping by Waqas Barkat off the bowling of Moner Ahmed. But Nabi was not finished. He brought up his own half-century soon after and went on to score 70 from 78 balls, sharing in a valuable 40 run partnership with Rais Ahmadzai, who finished on 14 not out, that took Afghanistan to the brink of a famous victory.
Irfan was left to bowl out the last few overs and though he grabbed Nabi's wicket and that of Shafiqullah Shafaq, Afghanistan were not to be denied. Samiullah Shenwari hit his first ball to the fence and Afghanistan had won by 4 wickets with two balls to spare.
Scorecard: Hong Kong v. Afghanistan
Afghanistan's victory virtually assures them a place in the tournament final while Hong Kong will have to await the outcome of the final round of matches to determine their fate. Hong Kong's fate rests in its own hands - a win in their final match against Jersey, who notched their first victory with a 79-run victory over Fiji, should see them enter the final for a potential re-match against Afghanistan, although run-rate calculations will still come into play should Italy win their last two matches, one of which is against Afghanistan.
Today's scheduled match between Italy and Tanzania was abandoned without a ball being bowled after morning rains drenched the ground. That match will likely be replayed on tomorrow's rest day.
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