Kabul Zwanan pile more misery on Knights
Kandahar side remains winless going down by a close two runs
Kabul Zwanan assumed temporary leadership of the standings leaving the Kandahar Knights winless after three matches in the inaugural Afghanistan Premier League (APL) at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, yesterday.
Going winless in two straight games, the Knights seemed to be headed towards their first points following a timely 60-run partnership between wicketkeeper Rikki Wessels and Nasir Jamal while chasing 174 for victory.
But once Jamal departed with his team needing 20 from the last two overs it looked a tough ask as they fell short by a mere two runs as they reached 171 for seven in their allotted 20 overs. Needing 15 off the final over sent down by Fareed ■ Ahmad, Wessels and Mohammad Naveed could manage just 12 leaving Kabul with full points and the top perch.
Having played four of their eight group matches, Kabul now have six points and a much better run-rate to claim the top position in the five-team competition that goes on until October 21. Kandahar, though playing one match less, are still to get off the mark after losing all three games so far.
The Kabul innings was built around a fine 29-ball 57 runs
from Englishman Laurie Evans, while Shahidullah Kamal (33) and Javed Ahmadi (39) came up with handy cameos to help reach a daunting 173 for 6 in their allotted 20 overs.
Evans was the mainstay with a couple of fruitful partnerships — first with Ahmadi realising a quick 45 runs off 26 balls, while the second one more telling with 58 runs off 32 deliveries alongside Kamal. Evans went on to make an unconquered 57 that contained a couple of boundaries and four sixes.