Muscat: The thrilling match, which saw Hong Kong chasing down 131 with just two balls to spare, has left Afghanistan A’s campaign uncertain as they risk facing India in the semifinals.
Afghanistan A, fresh off a four-wicket win against Bangladesh A, elected to bat first after winning the toss. However, Hong Kong’s Anas Khan wreaked havoc, taking six wickets and restricting Afghanistan to a modest total of 131. Despite a valiant 40-run partnership between Darwish Rasooli and Sediqullah Atal, Afghanistan’s batsmen struggled against Khan’s fiery bowling.
In response, Hong Kong’s Nizakat Khan and Babar Hayat steadied the ship with a 93-run partnership for the third wicket, setting up the chase. Martin Coetzee sealed the victory with a rapid five-ball 15, leading Hong Kong to a memorable win.
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Despite the defeat, Afghanistan A still managed to secure a spot in the semifinals, but their chances of topping Group A now hang in the balance, with Sri Lanka A and Bangladesh A eyeing the top spot.
Notable highlights of the match included Afghanistan’s Numan Shah breaking the record for most dismissals by a wicketkeeper in T20s, and Rasooli and Atal setting a new 3rd wicket partnership record for Afghanistan A.
As the tournament heats up, all eyes are on the upcoming matches, with Afghanistan potentially facing a tough semi-final against India.
