HARARE: Afghanistan kept their hopes alive for a place in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 when they defeated the West Indies by three wickets. Afghanistan restricted West Indies to 197 for 8 in 50 overs on a good batting surface and then achieved the target with 14 balls to spare.
The feature of Afghanistan’s win over the West Indies, which gave them a 2-1 lead in four head-to-head matches, was their four-pronged spin attack that included wrist-spinner Rashid Khan, off-spinners Mohammad Nabi and Mujeeb Rahman, and left-arm spinner Sharafuddin Ashraf. The slow bowlers bowled 39 overs between them in which they conceded 138 runs and snapped up seven wickets.
Mujeeb was the most successful bowler with three for 33, while Nabi bagged two for 43, including the wicket of Marlon Samuels for his 100th ODI scalp.
The slow bowlers were well supported by some outstanding fielding in the deep as the West Indies batsmen tried to break the shackles but only managed to find the alert Afghanistan fields.
Shai Hope was the top scorer with 43, while his 50-run fifth wicket partnership with Jason Holder (28) was the highest of the West Indies’ innings.
Afghanistan, in turn, were wobbling at 17 for two but Rehmat Shah (68) first rebuilt the innings with Samiullah Shenwari (27) and then with Nabi (31). But Nabi’s departure created some panic in the Afghanistan camp as they slipped to 168 for six in the 44th over, but Rashid Khan ensured victory with three wickets for 14 balls to spare by scoring 13 invaluable runs.
It was a one-way traffic at the Queens Sports Club after Scotland scored 322 for six and then dismissed the UAE for 249 in 49.4 overs with fast bowler Chris Sole taking four for 68.
The highlight of Scotland’s innings was a second career century by Cross in his 40th ODI. The 25-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman scored 114 from 135 balls with five fours and four sixes, adding 161 runs for the second wicket with MacLeod, whose 79-ball 78 included eight fours and a six.
Afghanistan? Hahahahahaha! Afghanistan is not even a traditionally cricketing nation!
@Truth Be Told – Haven’t you been following the meteoric rise of Afghanistan in international cricket over the last 10 years?
Last year, Afghanistan and Ireland were granted full test status by the International Cricket Council and are now full members of the international cricket council.
Meaning, they’ll be playing test cricket, more ODI’s and international T20s among the top 10 international cricketing nations. Afghanistan is scheduled to play its first test match in June this year against India.
Now while they may not have years of experience as the likes of the West Indies or Australia (being new entrants to the top level of cricket), they are by no means a incompetent cricket team lacking quality players.
West indies cricket has been on a downward movement for the past several years. The directors of cricket are more concerned about enriching themselves and keeping the status quo alive. The board is responsible to no one, that in itself is a major problem. WI cricket has been in rebuilding mode since the 20th century and things are just getting from bad to worse with no end of this shameful and embarrassing performance insight.
That is an EMBARRASSMENT.
Man, how ambarrassing is that? Come on, Afghanistan? After all. No pride left in West Indies cricket. The just likour politicians, wanting bling, big money and whatelseagain but don’t want to work for it.