Afghanistan bowlers put on blistering show to end HK's dream

Afghanistan opening bowlers Shahpur Zadran and Merwais Ashraf tore the heart out of Hong Kong's batting as Asia's fastest-improving team smashed their way into the semi-finals at the men's Twenty20 cricket competition with a comprehensive eight-wicket victory yesterday.

Zadran, an impressive left-arm pace bowler who averaged speeds of 140 kilometres an hour, and Ashraf reduced Hong Kong to 15 for six after skipper Najeeb Amar chose to bat after winning the toss. It was a decision that backfired.

"The wicket looked good and the game plan was to try to get some runs on the board and defend it. But we made too many mistakes," Najeeb said. "We struggled with their bowlers, especially the openers, being accurate and seaming the ball around."

With the game beginning at 9.30am, the sun was not out and with the wicket having a greenish tinge and some moisture in the wicket, the Afghanistan duo extracted a lot of pace, bounce and movement off the track,

To make matters worse, skipper Najeeb gifted his wicket away on the third ball when he set off for a suicidal run after pushing the ball to mid-on.

That sorry start was compounded by two bowlers who had learned and honed their games in the dusty refugee camps on the Pakistan border. Zadran and Ashraf bowled with such venom Afghan skipper Mohammad Nabi Eisakhil decided they would each bowl out their four overs.

By the end of the eighth over, the game was all but finished with Hong Kong in tatters at 15 for six. They reached 63 thanks only to Jamie Atkinson (16 from 28 deliveries) and Nadeem Ahmed (17 from 29).

Coach Charlie Burke attributed the downfall to a failure to cope with a good attack.

"It didn't have anything to do with the wicket," Burke said. "Their two opening bowlers destroyed us. The extra bit of pace and bounce had our guys hopping on the backfoot. A few silly shots also contributed."

It ended Hong Kong's run at the Games. Afghanistan, who had qualified for the last ICC World Cup Twenty20 competition, were hardly under any pressure and took their time to complete the run chase in the 18th over for the loss of two wickets.

"It is disappointing. But it has been a great experience playing for the first time at the Asian Games. This is an amazing ground and the spectators have been good," Najeeb said.

Afghanistan will now meet Pakistan in the semi-finals today.