Afghans romp into the Super Ten

Afghanistan romped into the Super Ten round of ICC WT20 2016 after they handed Zimbabwe a 59-run pasting under the lights at Nagpur stadium today.

Needing 187 to win, Zimbabwe were never in the chase as they lost wickets in regular intervals as Afghan bowlers didn’t allow any partnership to develop into anything substantial.

Rashid Khan of Afghanistan was the best bowler on show for his side, and rattled Zimbabwe with three wickets for 11 runs in four overs. Hamid Hassan contributed with two wickets while all the rest of the Afghan bowlers captured a wicket each.

Zimbabwe’s batting line-up failed to turn up today, and many of them got out under 20 runs. Tenth down Panyangara was the highest scorer with 17.

Zimbabwe lost their last wicket in the last over when Chatara was dismissed by Stanikzai to the delight of his teammates. The writing was on the wall for Zimbabwe after Dawlat Zadran sent back Wellington Masakadza for six runs in the 19th over.

17th over saw Zimbabwe’s Tiripano throw away his wicket with an unnecessary runout. Afghanistan were on top after they took Zimbabwe’s seventh wicket in the 16th over.

Hamid Hassan picked up his second wicket of the match when he clean bowled Sikandar Raza for 15.

Zimbabwe were staring down the barrel after the 12th over as they had lost half their side with only 65 runs on the board.

Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan gave his team the upper  hand when he sent back Zimbabwe’s Sean Williams for 13 runs in the 12th over. Williams was stumped as he tried to go for a big shot.

Zimbabwe lost their fourth wicket, that of Malcolm Waller in the 11th over, and Afghanistan players enjoyed this vital wicket. Poor footwork from Waller resulted in Shenwari’s ball disturbing his furniture.

Afghan allrounder Mohammad Nabi struck in the 8 th over to send Zimbabwe sliding. Zimbabwe’s Mutumbani picked out the fielder in deep midwicket after scoring 10 runs.

Rashid Khan sent back Sibanda in the seventh over as the batter top-edged his sweep and was caught for a painfully slow 13-run knock.

As the Afghan bowlers applied pressure from both ends and dried up the boundaries, Masakadza tried a big old slog to a full and straight ball from Hassan, he missed and the bowler celebrated!

Sibanda and Masakadza batted sensibly but could not score as quickly as they would have liked.

Earlier, Afghanistan amassed 186 for the loss of six wickets thanks to a breezy start and a blistering finish by their batsmen against Zimbabwe in the qualifying match of ICC WT20 2016.

The 98-run stand between Nabi and Shenwari allowed the Afghans to score quickly during the death overs and deflate the Zimbabwean bowlers with lethal aggression.

Mohammad Nabi was the highest scorer for his side today with his maiden fifty in T20I cricket. He smashed 52 from 32 balls with four fours and two sixes.

Shenwari played a good hand with 43 runs from 37 balls, and he struck four fours and a six in his cameo. Mohammad Shahzad gave Afghanistan a quick start, and rattled the Zimbabwean bowlers early.

Zimbabwe’s Panyangara was the most successful bowler for his side in this game. He took three for 32 in four overs. Tiripano and Williams captured a wicket each.

Mohammad Nabi gave his side a great platform to reach a huge total with some lusty blows late in the innings.

Together with Shenwari, Nabi took the attack to Zimbabwean bowlers and dispatched anything full or short. In nine overs, they produced 80 useful runs for Afghanistan.

Afghans were tottering at 63 for four after Noor was out in the 8 th over. He couldn’t score more than 10 runs.

Zimbabwe managed to take some quick breakthrough to stall Afghans, as Shehzad threatened to take the game away from them.

Zimbabwe’s Panyangara took the second Afghan in the sixth over. He sent back Asghar Stanikzai for a two-ball duck.

Zimbabwe fight back…

Zimbabwe’s Sean Williams managed to break the opening stand of Afghanistan in the fifth over, not before Mohammad Shahzad entertained the scant crowd at Nagpur stadium with some cracking boundaries.

Shahzad scored 40 out of his side’s 49 runs when he was dismissed. His reverse sweep could not beat the fielder at point.

The Afghan opener smashed seven fours and a huge six in his cameo.

Afghanistan captain Asghar Stanikzai opted to bat first after winning the toss against Zimbabwe led by Hamilton Masakadza in the qualifying match of ICC T20 2016 at Nagpur.

Zimbabwe and Afghanistan face each other in a shootout for a place in the main draw, after two wins each. The Full Member, though, isn’t the favourite.

Afghanistan are ranked ninth, two places above Zimbabwe, and hold the advantage. Zimbabwe have never beaten Afghanistan in T20 internationals in four attempts.

Zimbabwe’s performance has been sloppy this tournament, but they scrambled to wins over Hong Kong and Scotland. Afghanistan’s wins, on the other hand, have been more emphatic.

Afghanistan

Mohammad Shahzad (Wicketkeeper), Noor Ali Zadran, Asghar Stanikzai (Captain), Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Samiullah Shenwari, Najibullah Zadran, Shafiqullah, Rashid Khan, Dawlat Zadran and Hamid Hassan

Zimbabwe

H Masakadza (Captain), V Sibanda, R Mutumbami (Wicketkeeper), SC Williams, MN Waller, Sikandar Raza, E Chigumbura, WP Masakadza, DT Tiripano, T Panyangara and TL Chatara

Source: The Daily Star