Web Posted on Sat. 18th Feb. 2006
Kuwait overpowered minnows of cricket Iran by a huge margin of 226 runs in the inaugural match played at the lush green Kuwait Entertainment city ground in the ongoing ACC Middle East Cup 2006.
Batting first, Kuwait openers Mohammed Nawaz & Nadeem Malik started positively and launched into the attack immediately from the word go. Nawaz was elegant in executing his drives and used the pull shot more effectively and quickly raced to his fifty. Saud Qamar who came at the fall of Nadeem’s wicket soon found his touch and ably supported Nawaz by rotating the strike. Nawaz was finally dismissed for 92 runs which contained 6 fours & a huge six. Saud Qamar’s played a sheet anchor role and his stylish innings of 55 contained 4 fours. Mustanser & Yaseen Mughal held the fort for Kuwait as these two middle order batsmen belted the ball with immense power. Mustanser scored a attractive 50 with 2 fours & a six while Yaseen the stylish left hander remained not out with 46 runs. Mohammed Ali played a cameo innings of 30 runs at the fag end which resulted Kuwait in scoring a mammoth 347 runs in 50 overs. Nariman 2 for 78 & Haji Ghani 2 for 45 were the most successful Iranian bowlers.
Chasing a huge total, Iranian openers posted 40 runs but introduction of Hassan Arif brought the down fall of the Iranian batting line up. Hassan Arif tormented the Iranian batsmen with his nagging line & length and his accurate spell fetched him 4 wickets for 29 runs. Nariman was the only Iranian batsman who boldly faced the fancied Kuwait attack & remained not with a handsome 44 runs which had 5 fours. Asmattullah who ably supported Hassan captured 3 wickets for 16 runs. Iran were soon all out for 122 runs thus leaving Kuwait victorious by 226 runs.
Mohd Nawas was rightly declared man of the match for his masterly struck 92 runs. Today Kuwait will face Afghanistan in Ahmadi ground and Saudia will play against Bahrain at KEC Doha.

Web Posted on Sat. 18th Feb. 2006
Riding on the splendid all round display by Navroz Mangal, debutant Afghanistan opened their campaign on a winning note as they chalked out an impressive 91 runs victory over Saudi Arabia in the ongoing ACC Middle East Cup 2006 played at KOC cricket ground at Ahmadi in front of 2000 plus lovers of cricket lovers.
Winning the toss and batting first, Afghanistan openers Navroz Mangal & Karim Sadiq flourished with some handsome strokes by putting on 58 runs for the first wicket. Karim’s breezy knock ended when Khalid bowled him for 22 runs. Introduction of Fahd from the road end triggered a minor collapse in the Afghanistan camp as he got rid of Mohammed Asghar & Abdul Nassar in quick succession. Navroz gathering momentum, then unleashed a flurry of strokes with deft improvisation and precise timing to score 58 runs with 8 fours & a roaring six. But the rapid dismissal of Navroz applied brakes on Afghanistan’s batting as they lagged with a score of 138 for 5 wickets.
It was at this stage that Mohammed Nabi & Samiullah partnered together to bring back Afghanistan’s spirit as the duo tamed the Saudi bowling with splendid strokes all round the wicket to post 92 runs partnership for the 7 th wicket. Mohd. Nabi marched from strength to strength to bludgeon a magnificent 65 runs. Using his feet to the pitch of the deliveries, Nabi smacked the ball with awesome power. Samiullah composed well to rotate the strike and with some judicious strokes plundered 50 runs. Their match winning partnership resulted in Afghanistan reaching 257 runs in 50 overs. Fahd who took 3 for 43, while Sarfraz & Sohrab took 2 for 54 & 43 runs respectively shared the bowling honors for Saudi Arabia. Going wicket less Farooq bowled splendidly by giving just 18 runs in 8 overs.
Chasing a victory target of 257 runs, Saudi openers Hidayattulah& Shahabaz added 38 runs when Hidayat snicked an out swinger from Hastigull to the keeper for 18 runs.. Hamid Hussein, the lanky fast bowler then played havoc as he ran through the Saudi middle order with 3 quick wickets. Meanwhil, Shahabaz displayed excellent batting as he cut, drove and pulled with immense power to score 58 runs which contained 9 hits to the ropes. Reeling under pressure none of the Saudi batsmen applied themselves, which let Afghanistan have an upper hand. Introduction of Navroz Mangal from Hubara end tilted the scales as he tormented the Saudi batsmen with his spin to polish the tail. Saudi Arabia were all out for 166 runs in the 40 th over. A late onslaught by Farooq who struck a powerful 24 runs brought some respectability to the Saudi total. Hamid Hussein bowled magnificently to take 4 wickets for 26 runs while man of the match Navroz Mangal captured 4 wickets for 32 runs. Mr. Fazlullah Reshteen, First Secretary from Afghanistan Embassy handed over the man of the match prize to Navroz Mangal. The match was witnessed by a large number of ecstatic Afghan crowd who had come all the way by bearing their national flag to cheer up their country.