Afghanistan beat Namibia by 62 runs in the T20 World Cup in Asghar Afghan’s last game before retiring; Mohammad Shahzad marks the highest score with 45 when Afghanistan positions 160-5 before restricting Namibia to 98-9 to secure their second Super 12 victory.
Asghar Afghan received an honor guard from his Afghanistan teammates after his last international innings.
Afghanistan gave former captain Asghar Afghan the perfect send-off with a sweeping 62-run win over Namibia in his final match before retiring.
The Afghan made 31 of 23 balls in his final innings of a 12-year international career and received an honor guard from his teammates after being fired in the 19th before being kicked off the field at the end of the match.
Mohammad Shahzad (45 of 33), Hazratullah Zazai (33 of 27) and skipper Mohammad Nabi (32 of 17) also made helpful contributions with the bat, as Afghanistan posted 160-5 of their 20 overs before putting pressure on Namibia and restrict them. at 98-9 in response.
Afghanistan remains second in Group 2 after their second win in three matches, while Namibia suffers its first loss, following a win over Scotland in their first Super 12 match.
Having won the toss, Afghanistan again opted to hit first and got off to a good start with starters Zazai and Shahzad leading them to 50-0 at the end of the power play.
JJ Smit knocked out Zazai in the seventh and Rahmanullah Gurbaz fell in the tenth, lbw to Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton (2-21) after having trouble getting going, but Shahzad hit him well.
The wicketkeeper-hitter hit three fours and a pair of sixes in his 33-ball knock and, even after he was sent off, Afghanistan had the momentum to keep going late in innings with Afghan and, in particular, Nabi successfully landing on Namibian bowling. to side with him in a very competitive total.
Namibia lost four balls to starter Craig Williams in pursuit, caught in the middle of the on to give Naveen-ul-Haq (3-26) the first of his three wickets in the innings and that set the tone for what followed.
Afghanistan’s bowlers appeared to have a vice-like control in the match and when Rashid Khan (1-14) pitched Zane Green with his first ball, Namibia had a 36-4 record.
If the game didn’t end then, it was certainly when Hamid Hassan (3-9) eliminated Namibia captain Gerhard Erasmus and Smit in twelfth, to make it 56-6 and after Gulbadin Naib (2-19) represented Jan Frylinck. and Pikky Ya France, the closer returned to David Wiese’s bowl (26) with a well-executed yorker.
The numbers 10 and 11, Ruben Trumpelmann and Bernard Scholtz, managed to hit the remaining 3.1 overs with the result already beyond doubt before, with the victory confirmed, the players from Afghanistan lifted Afghan on their shoulders and carried him from the middle, a fitting tribute to one of the country’s best competitors, as he has established himself in world cricket for the past decade.
Afghan Asghar A stalwart of this Afghan team during their rise over the past decade, the Afghan signed with a victory and a useful 31-for-23 shot. After six test matches, 114 ODI and 75 T20I, the 33-year-old is retiring to give the next generation a chance to show what they can do. His contribution to Afghanistan cricket as a batsman and as a leader over the years has been immense and the scenes after his firing and the end of the match showed just how respected his is by his teammates.
Mohammad Shahzad – It really was an Afghanistan team effort in Abu Dhabi, but if there was a standout inning, it was Shahzad’s 45 of 33 balls at the top of the order. Along with Hazratullah Zazai, he got the team off to a perfect start to the power play and maintained that momentum in the overs that followed.
Mohammad nabi – The captain of Afghanistan has been playing against the best players on the planet for several years in the T20 leagues around the world. After the victories against Scotland and Namibia, Afghanistan must now try to get past some of the big hitters if they want to reach the semi-finals and Nabi will have a big role to play in that, with the bat, the ball and as captain. He looked in good contact here with a quick 32nd, a continuation of that form could make a difference with games against India and New Zealand to come.
Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton – It was quite a punishing day for Namibia after their famous victory over Scotland in their first Super 12 match, but spinner Loftie-Eaton’s performance was really positive. He claimed 2-21 of his four overs, showing good control to keep Afghanistan’s heavy hitters at bay.
Hamid Hassan – Namibia’s hitters may not have offered much when it comes to power hitting, but the 3-9 figures from four overs are impressive nonetheless. Hamid, 34, has had to wait for his chance in the tournament, but made up for lost time here, giving absolutely nothing as David Wiese’s delivery to the bowl shows the threat he poses with his ability to tail the ball. late.
Namibia will return to action on Tuesday when they take on undefeated Pakistan in Abu Dhabi (1:30 PM, Sky Sports Cricket and Main Event), while Afghanistan will face India in the same venue on Wednesday (1:30 PM, Sky Sports Cricket and Main Event). Event).
England will face Sri Lanka in Sharjah in the only match on Monday, watch it from 1.30pm on Sky Sports Cricket and Main Event.
Watch the T20 World Cup live on Sky from now until November 14.
