Game One Papua New Guinea 95 all out v 101/3 Afghanistan - Afghanistan WIN
Papua New Guinea continued to be comprehensively outclassed in this competition and in this match had as many players reach double figures as they did removed for scoring no runs. Indeed, two of the latter were first ball golden ducks. Unsusrprisingly Fazalhaq Farooqi bowled the balls to take these wickets, and he added a third when he snuffed out Nao's attempt at resistance in the nineteenth over.
That the Papua New Guinea innings went to the final over is probably more of a surprise than them being bowled out for under a hundred.
Now, all Afghanistan needed to do was score at 4.8 runs per over and they'd be through to the Super Eight part of the torunament. Easy, right?
When Zadin fell in the second over for a duck, and Gurbaz in the third for eleven there were probably one or two palpitations amongst the more excitable Afghanistan fans, but Gulbadin Naib settled hmself into the crease and scored 49 runs from 36 balls.
While another wicket did fall, they reached the target with the first ball of the sixteenth over when Naib whalloped Chad Soper to long on for six.
Congratulations to Afghanistan for reaching the Super Eight stage, and for eliminating New Zealand who still have two games to play.
Game Two USA v Ireland - Match Abandoned
Two Associate teams who came with hopes if not expectations.
The USA must be delighted and rightfully so. Losing to India is no shameful thing, and beating Pakistan is a feather that will surely rival Macaroni for a name.
Would they have preferred to beat Ireland and go through with six points? Some will say yes, but in reality they will have looked at the forecast and been quite happy at the prospect of sitting in the dressing room.
Ireland will have had hopes of making the Super Eight stage, or at least of pushing the matter closely. Instead they have been easity beaten by India, and failed to match Canada's scoring for a second lost.
A final match against Pakistan will be one of two teams seeking the merest scraps of redemption for a tournament that has not gone to plan, expectation, or even hopes.
| Game | 4's | 6's | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Papua New Guinea v Afghanistan | 13 | 3 | 16 |
| USA v Ireland | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tournament | 483 | 242 | 725 |
Tomorrow I'll have four matches to report on. South Africa are already qualified, a win against Nepal will guarantee top spot. New Zealand play Uganda and will hope to avoid further humiliation. India could be denied a perfect group stage against Canada if the further rain forecast for Lauderhill does fall. And finally England start part two of their great escape against Namibia. A win will move them above Scotland on net run rate and put them in the position of rooting for the Baggy Greens when they play Scotland on Sunday.
Check back tomorrow for reviews & updated boundary totals.
text by stuartcturnbull. graphic by Mir Rammez Raja & edited by stuartcturnbull via postermywall
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