Kabul keep semi-final hopes alive with win

Kabul kept alive their hopes of a semi-final place in Afghanistan's 50-over Etisalat Trophy, beating Kunar by three wickets in their Group C match in Kabul on Sunday, Panjshir and Laghman have already qualified for the semi-finals.

Kunar, from the country's east, won the toss and elected to bat first. Aspirations of a high total were dented when they lost three wickets in reaching 50. Kunar never fully recovered and were all-out for 130 in 32.3 overs.

Afghanistan under-19 captain Noorulhaq Malikzai had a handy game, taking a key wicket in the Kunar innings and chipping in with 23 in Kabul's reply. Kabul needed just 29.1 overs to overtake the Kunar total.

The Afghanistan Cricket Board will decide on Monday which teams are playing that day. It is believed Ghazni, the fifth team in Group C may have a first round bye and the two successful teams in Group C, Kabul and Logar, may play each other. This has not been finalised.

Results for days 5 to 12 are: Group B:
Panjshir 171 beat Khost 30 by 141 runs; Laghman 269-9 beat Kapisa 176 by 93 runs; Paktika 319 for 9 beat Badakhstan 137 by 182 runs; Nangarhar 341 beat Herat 219 by 122 runs; Nangahar 251 lost to Laghman 252-9 by 1 wicket; Laghman 211 beat Paktika 172. Group C:
Jawozjan 95 lost to Logar 97-0 by 10 wickets; Kunar 130 lost to Kabul 131-7 (29.1ov.) by three wickets.