Afghanistan batsmen Abdul Wasi and Islam Hakemzai walk off having secured a nine-wicket win over Qatar in their ACC U-16 match on Sunday. Right: Action from yesterday’s morning match between Qatar and Kuwait. Kuwait won by 10 wickets. Picture: Jayan Orma
Afghanistan made short work of Qatar in the ACC U-16 Elite Cup cricket tournament, winning by 9 wickets at West End Park on Sunday, chasing 63. Had pace bowler Aakash Manohar taken the return catch offered by Islam Hakeemzai the ball after he yorked Mohamed Hassan, Qatar could have had a chance to make some inroads into the powerful Afghanistan batting line-up. It was not to be.
Omar Sayeed’s dismissal for 25, the fifth wicket to fall for Qatar at the total of 63, opened the gates for Afghanistan as they cleaned up the next five wickets with no further addition to the total. Afghan spinners Qais Hassan and Sabir Mujahid took three wickets each.
Earlier in the morning match, Kuwait’s spinners took charge against Iran at the Mesaied ground after Kuwait had scored 178. The Kuwait top order all contributed, with Allen Thomas making a well-composed 66. Ball in hand, Thomas also shone, taking 3 for 12 with his off-breaks as Iran were bundled out for 77.
Brief scores
Qatar 63 all out off 25.5 overs (Q Hassan 3-11, S Mujhaid 3-8) lost to Afghanistan 65 for 1 off 7.3 overs by 9 wickets. Men-of-the-Match: Qais Hassan and Sabir Mujahid (Afghanistan)
Kuwait 178 all out off 37.5 overs (A Thomas 66, N Budroo 33; Z Afarin 3-33) beat Iran 77 all out off 30.3 overs (H Amanullah 3-17, A Thomas 3-12) by 101 runs.
Man-of-the-Match: Allen Thomas (Kuwait)
