In the most spectacular batting display of the day Afghanistan over ran Qatar in the afternoon game at the Unity Oval by eight wickets.
Qatar chose to bat after winning the toss and made steady progress to their total of 153 with one wicket standing. They enjoyed an entertaining third wicket partnership of 64 between Umer Taj (23 off 22 balls with 5 x 4s)and Rocky Cutinha (44 off 25 9 x 4s). thereafter wickets fell at regular intervals and other than Salim Akthar who slammed 27 off 17 with 3 sixes there was no contribution of significance. Spinner Samiullah was the pick of the bowlers grabbing 3 for 14 in his 4 overs while Mohammed Nabi bowled 3 overs and had 4 wickets for 27.
When the Afghans came into bat the true Twenty20 mode was switched on. Openers Nooroz Khan and Karim Khan took off like they were in a mighty hurry. Nooroz made a rollicking 67 in 48 balls with 9 fours and 2 sixes while Karim made 26. But Mohammad Nabi who came at number 4 took ones breath away with some clean and elegant hitting. His half century in half the number of balls with 5 mighty sixes that cleared the ropes by some distance sealed Qatar’s fate and saw Afghanistan win with consummate ease.
The authority that Afghanistan stamped themselves with in this match make them one of the top teams in this competition. [Full Scorecads]