Fine Bowling Help Afghanistan To Beat Scotland By A Big Margin Of 130 Runs

Scotland may have qualified for the super 12 groups by winning three consecutive matches but they have got the real quality of the World Cup here against Afghanistan. A perfect display of cricket from Afghani players has completely outplayed Scotland. Either it is batting or bowling, the Afghan team has shown that they are nowhere less. 

The match was played a Sharjah where the pitch usually supports the spin bowlers and thus, Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bat first. Afghani opening pair started with a bang. Pair of Hazratullah Zazai and Mohammad Shahzad put an opening stand of 54 runs in just 6 overs. Scotland bowler Safyaan Sharif got the first wicket of Shahzad who was looking dangerous. Shahzad made 22 runs from 15 balls with 2 fours and 1 six. 

The new man Rahmanullah Gurbaz joined hands with Hazratullah Zazai to take the team score at 82. Good-looking Zazai missed his half-century and got bowled to Mark Watt. He made a fabulous 44 from 30 balls with 3 fours and 3 sixes. Now, next batsman Najibullah Zadran and Gurbaz got to stick to the pitch and completely outplayed the Scotland bowling attack. They both added 87 runs for the 3rd wicket. Finally, Josh Davey took the wicket of Gurbaz and broke this blasting partnership. 

Gurbaz got out on 46 runs from 37 balls. In his innings, he showed some classy sixes. He hit 3 sixes and 1 four. Then skipper Mohammad Nabi came to bat. They were just 9 balls to go when he came. At the last ball of the innings, Safyaan Sharif got his second wicket in the form of Najibullah Zadran who played a fabulous knock of 59 runs from 34 balls. In his innings, he hit 5 fours and 3 sixes. Afghanistan ended with 190 runs on the board. 

The Scotland bowling was not that well. Safyaan Sharif and Mark Watt were the only two bowlers who have impressed with their bowling. Safyaan took two wickets by giving 33 runs in his spell. Mark scappled a wicket and gave just 23 from his 4 overs. Now it was time for Scotland batsmen to show their class but Afghani spinners were ready too. 

The pitch of Sharjah cricket ground showed its game in the second half. Off-spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman alone scappled 5 wickets to make a collapse in the Scottish batting line-up. Till 3 overs, Scotland made 28 runs for no loss and was going good toward the target. Then Afghani skipper handed the ball to Mujeeb. He devastated the whole batting line-up of Scotland. The opening batsman George Munsey was the only player to go past 20. He made 25 runs on 18 balls with 2 fours and 2 sixes. The Scottish batting line-up collapse from 28 for 0 to 38 for 6. 

In these 6 wickets, Mujeeb took 5, and pacer Naveen Ul Haq took 1 wicket. Leg-spinner Rashid Khan did the remaining work. He took the next four wickets and ended the Scotland innings. The whole team could only make 60 runs. Mujeeb stars with the ball, he scappled 5 wickets in 4 overs and gave just 20 runs. Naveen took 1 wicket. Rashid took 4 wickets. 

Mujeeb got the man of the match award for his stunning performance. Scotland team came into this match with three consecutive wins in the qualifiers. They really got the taste of quality bowling in this match. On the other hand, the Afghanistan team has put a strong message to the other teams that they will not play like underdogs here.