Afghanistan’s fledgling cricket team turned in a spirited performance on the Asian regional stage. They did battle and showed extraordinary fortitude in the contest against Hong Kong. Important players rose to the occasion throughout the game. In fact, it was Nabi’s exceptional all-around display that was the real talking point.
As the first half of the innings continued, Sediqullah stayed not out through that period, surviving and flourishing in his innings without being dismissed. His calm demeanor, judgement and experience helped the Afghan side find its feet when they were rattled in the early exchanges. Gurbaz couldn’t get going either, as he crawled to a first-ball duck. He was dismissed by Nizakat Khan off the bowling of Shukla. This sudden truncation further wound the screws for the Afghan lineup.
Ibrahim was pursued by Gurbaz to the crease but suffered an equally harsh end. Ibrahim, who scored just zero runs, fell to a rejection from Zeeshan Ali and was castled by Ateeq Iqbal. First a few early wickets and then a quick succession of wickets put Afghanistan in a precarious position that had many of their supporters worried.
Afghanistan’s luck soon started to turn with the arrival of Nabi. He masterfully guided his team to victory, winning the day with a spellbinding innings of 92. Nizakat Khan finally got him though, and he was bowled by Shah. Yet Nabi’s tactical changes quickened the Afghan side and put them back in the mix during a dizzying match.
Gulbadin added a significant 50 runs to the total. His innings came to an end when he was caught by Yasim Murtaza off the bowling of Shah. Collectively, Nabi and Gulbadin’s associations were key in rescuing the Afghan innings after a wobbly start.
Throughout the match, Sediqullah batted very solidly, scoring runs as he stayed not out with batsman out on the other end. The combination of tight bowling from Hong Kong and Afghanistan’s fluctuating batting performance led to a tense atmosphere throughout the match.
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