Afghanistan booked a winner-takes-all showdown with Zimbabwe on Saturday for the right to play against the top-tier nations in the ICC World Twenty20 after a six-wicket victory over Hong Kong in Nagpur.
Asghar Stanikzai’s men chased down a 117 victory target with 12 balls to spare to claim their second Group B triumph and condemn Hong Kong to an early exit.
Zimbabwe also have a 100 per cent record in the group and this weekend’s clash determines who will grab the only qualifying spot for the second round, where Sri Lanka, South Africa, England and West Indies lie in wait.
SMILE!! Mohammad Nabi is a very worthy Player of the Match winner for his #WT20 best figures for #AFG pic.twitter.com/COssi5p3l9
— ICC (@ICC) March 10, 2016
Hong Kong were once again undone by Afghanistan off-spinner Mohammad Nabi, who took a format-best four for 17 when the teams met last month in an Asia Cup qualifier.
He followed it up with another four-wicket haul as Hong Kong were restricted to 116 for six after deciding to bat first.
Opener Ryan Campbell made 27 off 24 balls before he was unfortunately bowled, via a deflection off his helmet, by Nabi, who made significant inroads into the batting line-up. Anshuman Rath accrued 28 not out but Hong Kong’s score seemed well below par.
.@MohammadNabi007 is awarded Player of the Match for his figures of 4/20 which gave #AFG victory over #HK #WT20 pic.twitter.com/wX3YUHlUyI
— ICC (@ICC) March 10, 2016
Thanks to the efforts of Mohammad Shahzad (41) and Noor Ali Zadran (35), Afghanistan reached 68 without loss at the halfway point of their pursuit.
While neither batsman could see the job through, Afghanistan were never in danger of folding and Najibullah Zadran (17no) crunched three successive fours in the 18th over to see them over the line.
