Cutting edge performance at Sharjah Stadium
Stand-in skipper in fine form as Nangarhar side defeat Knights to start with a in APL
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Stand-in captain Ben Cutting led from the front with five wickets as his Nangarhar Leopards tamed the Kandahar Knights by six wickets on the second day of the Afghanistan Premier League (APL) at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
Asghar Afghan’s decision to bat first after winning the toss seemed to backfire as Cutting managed to get into a fine rhythm snapping up five victims — including two in the 20th over — while giving away just 28 runs.
Standing in place of West Indies’ Andre Russell for the first two group matches, Cutting was quick in finding his rhythm after being hit for 12 runs in his first over.
The lanky Australian, whose most recent team was the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL), came back strongly conceding just seven runs in his second over before bagging a couple each in his third and fourth overs at the cost of just three and five runs, respectively.
The stage seemed set for an encore of a high score like on the opening night with Paul Stirling coming up with a huge six, while his opening partner Brendon McCullum took time to settle in.
Once the openers departed, Paul Stirling after making 18 and McCullum with a 15-ball 19 runs, the Kandahar Knights middle order collapsed leaving them in a spot of bother at 46 for 4 after six overs.
Kevin O’Brien and Karim Janat then plodded on with a patient partnership reaching 63 for four at the midway stage till the lanky Irishman departed with a personal contribution of 22. Janat was fortunate to be dropped on 29 in the 16th over by youngster Naveen Ul Haq off Mujeeb Ur Rahman.
The sturdy batsman celebrated this escape with a six and then dropped anchor to hold the innings together before departing in the final over — not before making a run-a-ball 39 — including three boundaries.
Ideal start
Needing a little more than seven runs an over, the Nangarhar Leopards’ chase was well served with an opening stand of 46 between West Indies’ Johnson Charles and Najeeb Tarakai.
Given the ideal launch pad, Tarakai continued to build on his start to make 32 off 25 balls — including a couple of fours and sixes and the score at 68 for two in the 10th over. Rahmat Shah and Anton Devcich departed in quick succession — putting the Leopards under some pressure.
Requiring 42 off final six overs, Shafiqullah Shafaq and Hashmatullah Shahidi steadied the nerves of the dressing room and took them home with nine balls to spare.