#Afghanistan v #NewZealand, #Napier
8th Mar 2015
Afghanistan have given a good account of themselves against mighty New Zealand to score 186 in their stipulated overs.
Winning the toss and electing to bat, they were off to a disastrous start losing 6 wickets for 59. #TrentBoult and #DanielVettori the wreckers in chief. It took a good partnership from #ShamiullahShenwari and #NajibullahZadran to pull them out of the rut. Both scored cautious fifities to give the Afghan total some respectability.
Dan Vettori was the champion was New Zealand claiming 4 wickets for 18 runs in his 10 overs. Boult supported him with 3 wickets.
NZ have started their innings in usual belligerence led by #BrendonMcCullum
He's smashed 42 in 19 balls before being bowled by #Nabi
#LIVE #Score
New Zealand: 89 for 1, 15 overs
#MartinGuptill - 26*
#KaneWilliamson - 19*
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#Australia v #Afghanistan, #WACA, #Perth
4th Mar 2015
Some say, they've had a rough time with weather, injuries and unlucky moments in matches thus far.
Their position in the table is a testimony to that thought.
3 Matches - 3 points is certainly not something you'd look at as Australia's position especially given the quality of their side and being frontrunners to lift the #CWC15 trophy.
Game 1 - Thumped England comfortably at the #MCG
Game 2 - Washed out v Bangladesh at the #GABBA, #Brisbane
Game 3 - Lost narrowly to New Zealand at #EdenPark, #Auckland
Their batting against the Kiwis was far from convincing and clearly showed their unpreparedness in tough situations. This can be exploited by other strong teams in the competition.
Bowling is plagued with injury scares, latest being the ankle twist of #PatCummins that has put him doubtful for the next games.
#MichaelClarke has to guide his team through this tricky phase and build momentum as they move towards knockout stages.
As for #Afghanistan, at their stunning victory over #Scotland few days ago will definitely lift their spirits. But, its too monumental a task to compete with the Aussies, let alone win a game against them. They can however give a good account of themselves by playing some aggressive and disciplined cricket.
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#Afghanistan v #Scotland, #Dunedin
26th Feb 2015
Looks like the #minnows at the World Cup (the associate members of the #ICC) have decided to lighten up contests in what has seen many one-sided games between the top teams.
Yesterday, #Ireland pulled off a stunner against #UAE
Today it was #Afghanistan to repeat the dose on #Scotland.
What a fantastic game!!
On a beautiful Dunedin monring, Afghanistan won the toss and elected to field first.
The Zadrans decided to weave their magic around the #Scots. They captured 7 wickets between them to restrict Scotland to a meagre 210 in their 50 overs. 7 off the 11 Scotland batsmen got starts but none of them could capitalize and play a big innings to put up a respectable total.
The Afghanistan chase of the target began briskly with #JavedAhmadi tonking the ball around a bit. The Scots came back through 2 quick wickets. #AlasdairEvans claiming both wickets.
In walked #SamiullahShenwari to play the innings of his life. He and Ahmadi set out chasing the target with ease and were cruising at 85 for 2 in 18 overs. Simple.
This is when the tide began to turn and how?
#RcihieBerrington and #RossDavey combined in a brilliant spell of bowling to dismiss 5 Afghan batsmen for a paltry 12 runs. Suddenly the score card was reading Afghanistan - 97 for 7.
Game completely in favor of the Scots now. They had it in the bag.
Thats when Shenwari decided otherwise.
He first stitched a 35 run partnership with #DawlatZadran and then an invaluable 60 run partnership with #HamidHassan. At 192 for 8, it looked Afghanistan had the game in their grasp. Shenwari coasting to a well deserved century.
In a moment of madness though, he slapped a delivery from #MajidHaq to deep midwicket boundary where Josh Davey kept his cool and took a wonderful catch. The Scots were delighted. Their biggest thorn and in form batsman was gone with another 19 runs needed to win. Certainly, the win was theirs!
Nope said #ShapoorZadran as he smashed 12 in 10 deliveries and completed the Houdini escape for Afghanistan to win the match by 1 wicket and 3 balls to spare.
Delight and Despair all round. Wonderful scenes of ecstacy from Afghanistan and agony from Scotland. Their first win in a world cup game. Cricket was truly the winner today. Well played both teams ... are the big teams listening? can we get some of these nail-biters from you too?
Man of the Match: Samiullah Shenwari
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#SriLanka v #Afghanistan , #Dunedin
22nd Feb 2015
A brilliant #century by #MahelaJayawardene ensured #SL scraped through to a close win against the minnows in a Pool A game at Dunedin.
Sri Lanka made heavy weather of the modest 232 target set by Afghanistan.
At one stage, an upset was on the cards and things got really uncomfortable for the 1996 world champs but #ThisaraPerera and #JeevanMendis kept their cool and used experience to guide SL to a win in Dunedin.
Afghanistan's inexperience in such situations showed as they couldn't press for a win but a very commendable performance from them for sure.
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#SriLanka v #Afghanistan, #Dunedin
22nd Feb 2015
Its getting close in Dunedin!!
Sri Lanka being pushed to the limit by minnows Afghanistan
Need 40 runs at more than run a ball with just 4 wickets in hand.
#ThisaraPerera and #JeevanMendis at the crease.
Good going Afghanistan for making a match of it.
Do they have it to pull in an upset?
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