Agence France Presse
Dunedin, Feb 26: Top-order batsman Samiullah Shenwari (96, 147b, 7×4, 5×6) played a gritty knock to pave the way for Afghanistan’s historic one-wicket win against Scotland in a nail-bitting Pool A match of the cricket World Cup here Thursday.
It has been a memorable journey for the players from the strife-torn country. There are at least six players in the present Afghan side who have lost close relatives during the last 20 years. But nothing could prevent them from clinching their first victory in their maiden World Cup.
Chasing 211 for a win at the University Oval ground here, Afghanistan were in dire straits at 97 for seven, before Shenwari played the innings of his life to help the Mohammad Nabi-led side script a famous win with three balls to spare.
Shenwari stitched crucial partnerships with the tail-enders and the team got much-needed help from No. 10 Hamid Hassan (15 n o, 39b, 1×4) and last man Shapoor Zadran (12 n o, 10b, 2×4) who stood unbeaten for the final 19 runs of the win. Opener Javed Ahmadi (51, 51b, 8×4) also made a useful contribution up the order.
Earlier, Majid Haq (31, 51b, 3×4) and Alasdair Evans (28, 37b, 3×4) put on 62 runs for the ninth wicket to lift Scotland to 210, their highest cricket World Cup score in three appearances. Quite a few Scottish batters got start but failed to convert. Among them were Kyle Coetzer (21, 41b, 5×4), Matt Machan (31, 28b, 4×4) and Richie Berrington (25, 46b, 2×4).
Shapoor (4/31) was the star bowler for the Afghans and was well supported by Dawlat Zardan (3/29). The Afghan bowlers bowled a tight line on a pitch that aided seam movement to keep their rivals in check.
In pursuit of the target, Shenwari added 35 runs with Dawlat (nine) to first stabilise the chase and then shared vital 60 runs off 71 balls with Hassan to take his side near the finishing line before perishing in the 47th over.
Shenwari though made the match after he clobbered off-spinner Haq for three huge sixes on the leg side to bring the equation down but he fell in fifth ball of the same over. He was caught by Josh Davey at the deep mid-wicket boundary while going for another big hit.
Brief scores: Scotland 210 (Matt Machan 31, Majid Haq 31; Shapoor Zadran 4/38, Dawlat Zadran 3/29) lost to Afghanistan 211/9 in 49.3 overs (Javed Ahmadi, 51, Samiullah Shenwari 96; Richie Berrington 4/40) by one wicket.
