Karim Sadiq top-scored for Afghanistan before Mohammad Nabi's cameo innings sealed the game © International Cricket Council Enlarge
Related Links Players/Officials: Ashish Bagai | Karim Sadiq | Mohammad Nabi Matches: Afghanistan v Canada at Colombo (SSC) Series/Tournaments: Sri Lanka Associates T20 Series Teams: Afghanistan | Canada

Afghanistan 143 for 5 (Sadiq 42, Nabi 23, Baidwan 3-23) beat Canada 140 for 6 (Bagai 56) by five wickets
Scorecard

It was another team effort from Afghanistan as they picked up their first win of the tournament, beating Canada by five wickets. It was still anybody's game when Afghanistan needed 36 off the final four overs, before Mohammad Nabi's cameo at No. 6 took them to the brink of victory, and a cool Samiullah Shenwari finished the job with a ball to spare.

Choosing to bat, Canada were propped up by a third-wicket stand of 63 between Abdool Samad and wicketkeeper-captain Ashish Bagai. Bagai went on to score 53 off 42 balls, hitting seven fours, as Canada finished on a disappointing total, given the recent high scores at the SSC.

Openers Karim Sadiq and Noor Ali, making his debut, ensured Afghanistan made a bright start, putting on 66 by the 10th over. But Canada fought back to take three wickets in three overs to reduce to Afghanistan to 105 for 4 in the 16th over. But three fours in Nabi's 12-ball 23 tilted the balance and it was left to captain Nowroz Mangal and Shenwari to see them home in a tight finish.