Sports

Cricket - Afghanistan clinch maiden first-class victory

by Irawwan | August 26, 2009 at 05:25 pm

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Leaving evils like terrorism, religious fanaticism, exploding bombs, guns, run and occupation by foreign forces etc behind, Afghans are making forays into the world of Cricket. Introduced to the generations of refugees who fled to Pakistan from the erstwhile Soviet occupational forces, Afghans took cricket as one of their passions. The cricketing world too was quick to give Afghan national team the required support for once, recognizing them as a first-class cricket playing nation. Those efforts are slowly bearing fruits now.

Beware the cricketing world, for the Afghans have tasted blood and are coming...

Four months after securing One-Day International status, Afghanistan on Wednesday celebrated their maiden first-class victory with a one-wicket victory over the Netherlands.

In the four-day match, part of the Intercontinental Cup tournament, Afghanistan began the final day needing 168 to win, with eight wickets to spare, and reached their target when Samiullah Shenwari smashed Mudassar Bukhari for a boundary.

In a low-scoring, rain-affected match, the Dutch were bowled out for 181 in their first innings with Hamid Hassan and Mohammad Nabi grabbing four wickets each.