Afghanistan v Bhutan – Asian Cricket Council Trophy Elite 2012 (Group A) – Match Update
Aided by a five-wicket haul from young left-arm-bowler Sayed Shirzad, a rampant Afghanistan claimed a comprehensive 8-wicket win over Bhutan in their Group A match during the ongoing Asian Cricket Council Trophy Elite 2012, on October 7 at the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/ICC-World-Cup-2011-c100625 Global
Cricket Academy in Dubai.
Bhutan won the toss and elected to bat first, but owing to the efforts of Player of the Match Shirzad (5.4-1-13-5), Gulbodin Naib (6-1-21-2), and a handful of other Afghani bowlers, the batsmen were unable to progress beyond a final total of 107.
Top-order batsmen Thinley Jamtsho (2) and wicketkeeper batsman Tshering Dorji (1) were dismissed early on, and from there onwards it was a downhill slide for Bhutan.
Only four batsmen – Kumar Subba (15), skipper Jigme Singye (who top-scored for the team with 40), Suprit Pradhan (12), and Sonam Tobgay (15) – managed to contribute double-digit scores, and the highest partnership was a 31-run stand for the 6th
wicket between Singye and Tobgay.
The remainder of the batting order collapsed completely, with three batsmen – Phuntsho Wangdi, Kencho Norbu, and Barun Wangdi – dismissed on duck, and only Dampo Dorji (8) managing to chip in with a few runs before he too was sent packing. By the 38th
over, Bhutan were all out at a disappointing total of 107.
The chase posed little difficulties for Afghanistan, who breezed through with minimal losses. Openers Gulbodin Naib (34) and skipper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Nawroz-Mangal-c2084 (who top-scored for his team with 58*) got their side off to a steady start with a 59-run stand. Naib was caught
out by wicketkeeper Tshering Dorji off http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Javed-Ahmadi-c66518, who was caught and bowled on duck by Wangdi in the 11th over, leaving Afghanistan at 78 for 2.
However, from there onwards, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mohibullah-c77561 Paak (9*) was the next batsman to step up to the crease, and joined Mangal in an unbeaten 30-run partnership for the third wicket, which got them easily over the finishing line, enabling
the team to reach 108 with 8 wickets still in hand, and 220 deliveries still remaining.
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