Afghans ACC T20 champions

Dec-12-2011
KATHMANDU: Afghanistan overcame some anxious moments to avoid a major upset by defeating Hong Kong by eight runs in the ACC Twenty20 Cup final here at the Tribhuvan University Stadium today.

Chasing 126 to win, Hong were heading for a upset victory over the defending champions when they reached 105-5 in the 17th over. But needing just 21 in the last three overs, they lost their five wickets for 12 runs.

Hong Kong scored eight runs in the 18th over but also lost a wicket in the process meaning they required 13 off 12 balls. But man-of-the-match Hamid Hassan claimed two wickets and effected a run out in the his first three balls of the 19th over to reduce Hong Kong to 115-9.

Afghanistan completed a remarkable turnaround in the second ball of the last over when Nadeem Ahmed was run out. Earlier, Jamie Atkinson top scored for Hong Kong with 35 while Waqas Barkat made 22. Hamid finished with 3-12 while Dawlat Zadran and Mohammad Nabi took two wickets each.

Earlier, Afghanistan were indebted to a half century from Gulbodin Naib to post a competitive 125 runs before before bowled out in the penultimate ball of their innings. Afghanistan were in dire straits after losing their four top-order batsmen for 24 runs by the seventh over.

But No 3 batsman Naib held firm at the other end hitting five sixes and two fours in his 50-ball 57. Mohammad Nabi also struck quickfire 22 off 16 deliveries with two sixes and a four. Munir Dar, who scored an unbeaten 76 in a difficult situation to help Hong Kong defeat Oman in the semi-finals, was the pick of the bowler with 5-23.

Dar was declared the man-of-the-series for his allround performance. He scored a total of 202 runs including two half centuries and also took 11 wickets in six matches. The 88 run scored by Nepal’s Mehboob Alam against Saudi Arabia remained the highest individual score.

The tournament also saw Nepal, Oman and Hong Kong earn tickets to the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier to be played in the United Arab Emirates in March next year. With their ODI status, Afghanistan were already assured of a place in the 16-team Qualifier. The ICC World Twenty20 is in September in Sri Lanka.

Himalayan