A tough chase was made to look comfortable, as Afghanistan won by 6 wickets over Canada on the first day of the WCL Division One. Set 258, Afghanistan had good contributions all the way down to help them get across the line.
The opening partnership of Noor Ali and Shabir Noori laid a decent platform with 48 runs in the first 11 overs. Still though, Afghanistan needed a push to their innings, and they got that thanks to Mohammad Shahzad, who was replaced as wicket-keeper by Karim Sadiq today. Shahzad and Ali put on 87 runs for the second wicket, with both of them reaching fifties. However both of them went in the same over: Ali run out for exactly 50, Shahzad bowled for a run a ball 57.
The captain Nawroz Mangal and Asghar Stanikzai then repaired the damage of those two quick wickets, adding 82. When Stanikzai fell the match was in the balance but you sensed that, with wickets in hand and big-hitter Mohammad Nabi there, Afghanistan still had the match in their hands.
So it proved as Mangal hit a flurry of fours and Nabi smashed a six to take Afghanistan to victory. Captain Mangal took the man of the match for his match-winning 70 off 58 balls.
Earlier in the day Canada had won the toss and elected to bat at the Sportpark Westvliet ground in Voorburg. The third wicket stand of 88 was the main partnership in the innings. Canada were also helped by 34 extras, 7 of those being unforgivable no-balls.
Canadian captian Ashish Bagai top scored with a calm 82. Samiullah Shenwari was the best bowler for Afghanistan, with 3 for 43 from his 10 overs.
Further poor bowling at the end meant Canada ended on a competitive 257-6. Thanks to a team effort from Afghanistan with the bat it wasn’t enough.
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Ireland and Scotland won the other two matches on the opening day. Ireland thrashed Kenya by seven wickets, and Scotland won a tight, thrilling game by 1 wickets against the hosts, The Netherlands.
It was interesting to see the Afghan team do very well in batting today. Congrats!