Sidelights – ICC World T20 | Afghanistan Vs Hong Kong

It was a do or die match for both Afghanistan and Hong Kong and only one team could survive at the end of the day. This match was played at a new venue Chittagong and the teams were able to score the par T20 scores in the end. It was a one sided affair overall and Afghanistan prevailed in the end. Hong Kong sadly is crashed out of the tournament with the two straight defeats. Better luck next time! For Afghanistan Mohammad Shahzad was superb. He has been one their most prolific batsmen of late. He lived up to his name and made sure that Afghanistan wins despite few hiccups at the start.

ICC World T20 | First Round – Match 5 | Afghanistan Vs Hong Kong

Venue: Zahur Ahmed Chaudhary Stadium, Chittagong

Toss: Hong Kong won the toss and elected to bat first

Playing XIs

Hong Kong: Irfan Ahmed, Waqas Barkat, Jamie Atkinson, Mark Champan, Babar Hayat, Nizakat Khan, Munir dar, Tanwir Afzal, Haseeb Amjad, Aizaz Khan, Nadeem Ahmedabad

Afghanistan: Najeeb Tarakai, Mohammad Shahzad, Asghar Stanikzai, Safiqullah, Mohammad Nabi, Najibullah Zardan, Samiullah Shenwari, Gulbadin Naib, Hamza Hotak, Dawlat Zardan, Shapoor Zadran

Mini Score Card

Hong Kong – 153/8 (20) Mark Chapman 38 (43) | Shapoor Zardan 2/27

Afghanistan – 154/3 (18) Mohammad Shahzad 68 (53) | Tanwir Afzal 1/19 (3)

Result: Afghanistan won by 7 wickets

Points: Afghanistan 2 (2), Hong Kong 0

Man of the match: Mohammad Shahzad (Afghanistan)

Umpires: S Ravi (India) | Paul Reiffel (Australia) | Rod Tucker (3^rd-Australia) | Aleem Dar (Reserve – Pakistan)

Match Referee: Javagal Srinath (India)

How they played the game

Powerplay: Hong Kong 46 runs, 2 wickets | Afghanistan 38 runs 1 wicket

First 50 runs: Hong Kong 42 balls | Afghanistan 43 balls

First 100 runs: Hong Kong 81 balls | Afghanistan 83 balls

150 runs: Hong Kong 122 balls | Afghanistan 108 balls

Best Partnership

Hong Kong – 3^rd Wicket | 60 runs off 55 balls | Contributors: Mark Chapman 30 (30) and Waqas Barkat 23 (25)

Afghanistan – 2^nd Wicket | 55 runs off 46 balls | Mohammad Shahzad 36 (25) and Asgar Stanikzai 13 (21)

Boundaries

Hong Kong– FOURS 14 (Jamie Atkinson 5| Waqas Barkat, Mark Chapman 3 | Babar Hayat, Tanwir Afzal, Haseeb Amjad 1) SIXES 4 (Jamie Atkinson, Mark Chapman, Nizakat Khan, Tanwir Afzal-1)

Afghanistan– FOURS 12 (Mohammad Shahzad 6 | Shafiqullah 5 | Najeeb Tarakai 1) SIXES 6 (Mohammad Shahzad 3 | Shafiqullah 3)

In the picture: Mohammad Shahzad goes for a big one

Pic Courtesy: ESPN-Cricinfo