HONG KONG (SW): Afghanistan on Saturday thrashed Hong Kong by an innings and 173 runs in the Inter-Continental Cup four-day match.
According to the official site of the game, the Afghan captain Mohammad Asghar Stanikzai and right-handed batsman Javed Ahmadi’s centuries and impressive bowling by Rashid Khan, Dawlat Zadran and Zaher Khan outshined the hosts in this crucial game.
Victory in this match earned Afghanistan much needed points to bag a total of 20 marks leaving behind Ireland to secure the first slot in the Inter-Continental Cup.
After winning the toss on the first day of the match on Friday, Hong Kong elected to bat first. The ‘goodly master’ Rashid Khan and passer Dawlat Zadran confined the hosts to just 142 runs in the first innings.
Afghanistan chased the target with style by scoring up to 465 runs at the loss of just five wickets. Stanikzai scored 125 while Ahmadi 108. Mohammad Nabi, Ehsanullah Janat and Rehmat Shah contributed with quick-fire fifties.
Trailing by 223 runs, Hong Kong started its second innings in miserable fashion. The Afghan bowling attack again overpowered the hosts by reducing them to just 150 runs. Zahir Khan took four wickets followed by two each by Rashid, Dawlat and Nabi.
With a total of seven wickets, Rashid was crowned as the man of the match.
A total of eight nations including Afghanistan are participating in the Inter-Continental Cup matches. Afghanistan tops the list followed by Ireland, Holland, the United Arab Emirates, Scotland, Papua New Guinea, Hong Kong and Namibia.
ENDS
