Super 12 - Match 27, Abu Dhabi, October 31, 2021, 03:30 PM
Afghanistan
160/5(20.0ov)
Namibia
98/9(20.0ov)
Afghanistan beat Namibia by 62 runs
Best Batsmen
R
B
4S
6S
SR
Best Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
Man of the Match
Naveen-ul-Haq
Commentry
So, that is it from this game! Cricketing action does not end here though. The big game follows, India against New Zealand. That game begins at 6 pm local (2 pm GMT). Cheers!
Mohammad Nabi, the Afghanistan captain says, the boys are in the good morale. Mentions, they are mentally prepared for the chase, if it ever comes to that. Adds that Zazai and Shahzad have been brutal with the bat up front since ages and hopes they are just working along nicely. Mentions, they are happy to perform with the pace attack today and praises Hassan for his exceptional spell. Adds, he was informed yesterday about Afghan’s decision. Says, it was a shocking decision, but Afghan will be a great T20I captain for the history. Adds, Nabi could not make him change his decision, as Afghan was stuck to his word.
Gerhard Erasmus, the Namibian skipper, says that they knew it was going to be a level up from the previous game as they are a Test nation and have quality bowling. Adds that they had to change their plans a bit and believes that the batters couldn't stay for too long on the crease and they did give away a few more runs in the Powerplay as well. Mentions that 160 was a good total and they just had too much quality in attack and even with Mujeeb not playing, all their pacers bowled well. Adds that they know the challenge is getting greater but they deserve to be here and takes this as a stepping stone for the future.
Naveen-ul-Haq wins the Player of the Match award, but he dedicates his man of the match award to Asghar, for his contribution to Afghanistan cricket. He says, Naveen-ul-Haq has been exceptional in the shortest form of cricket. Naveen adds it is very special to play in front of the fans. On the new ball, he says he did study a lot and thought to bring in variations would benefit him. Naveen also adds Afghan has been a great skipper for generations. Afghan ends by thanking the fans for their support.
... Presentation Time ...
Earlier in the innings, the Afghan openers got off to a flying start. But as both fell, the run flow was brought under control. Nabi and Afghan knocked some crucial runs to reach the 160-run mark. In the end, Afghan bowlers were on song and got over the line in the end with ease.
Chasing 161 was always going to be a difficult for Namibia, they needed partnerships but they got none. Just the one batter managed to cross the 20-run mark and that was a David Wiese. The rest really struggled to cope to the pace of the wicket and in the end have fallen well short of the target.
Yet another comprehensive win for Afghanistan! They were without Mujeeb Ur Rahman but they did not miss him one bit. Another excellent display with the ball by them but this time it was the pacers who worked their magic. Naveen-ul-Haq started things off with two quickly. Gulbadin Naib and Hamid Hassan then continued the good work. Rashid Khan was economical but the three mentioned above were the stars. Difficult to pick one as all three were equally good.
This is the eighth consecutive T20I win in Abu Dhabi for Afghanistan, the joint most for a team at a venue. England in Cardiff and Pakistan in Dubai also have eight consecutive wins in streak.
A fitting end then for Asghar Afghan. A big one to round off what has been a career to remember. He is being carried around the ground by Gulbadin Naib on his shoulders.
In over# 20
1
1
0
1
1
0
Karim Janat 11/0(2)
19.6
1
That's it, Afghanistan are back to winning ways! On middle and Ruben Trumpelmann heaves it to deep mid-wicket for another one. AFGHANISTAN WIN BY 62 RUNS!
19.5
1
Length this time, around off. Bernard Scholtz gets it through covers for a single.
19.4
.
Short ball, banged in slow and well outside off. Bernard Scholtz tries to reach it and uppercut it but misses.
19.3
1
Full and straight, Ruben Trumpelmann digs it out to long off for another one.
19.2
1
Fullish ball, angled in at the leg stump. Bernard Scholtz clears his front leg and heaves it down to long on for a single.
19.1
.
A length ball, on off and this is tapped to cover-point.
Karim Janat to bowl the final over.
In over# 19
0
0
0
4
4
1
Naveen-ul-Haq 26/3(4)