Hong Kong vs. Afghanistan, World T20: Video Highlights, Scorecard, Report

Afghanistan beat Hong Kong by seven wickets in the World Twenty20 tournament in Chittagong.

Hong Kong chose to bat at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium and recovered from the loss of Irfan Ahmed from the opening ball of the innings to post a competitive 153-8.

The Afghans reached the target with 12 balls to spare as they bounced back from their opening day defeat to Bangladesh.

Waqas Barkat (32), captain Jamie Atkinson (31) and Mark Chapman (38) all made middle order contributions for HK, who were beaten by Nepal in their opening encounter, after Shapoor Zadran struck with the first ball of the match.

		Runs	Minutes	Balls	4s
Ahmed		b S Zadran	0		1
Barkat	c Zadran	b Nabi	32	64	32
Atkinson	lbw	b Hotak	31	21	20
Chapman		b Zadran	38	55	43
Hayat	c Stanikzai	b Nabi	5	8	3
Khan	c Nabi	b Hotak	9	10	4
Dar	run out (Tarakai)		3	11	6
Tanwir Afzal	c Naib	b S Zadran	11	10	6
Amjad	not out		7	6	6
Khan	not out		1	2	1
Extras		5nb 8w 1b 2lb	16
Bowler		Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wickets
S Zadran		4	0	27	2
Naib		2	0	23	0
Hotak		4	0	32	2
Shenwari		3	0	17	0
Zadran		3	0	24	1
Nabi		4	0	27	2

Wicketkeeper Mohammad Shahzad gave Afghanistan a strong start in their reply by making 68 off 53 balls.

The right-hander hit six boundaries and three sixes before falling in the 16th over with the score on 116.

However Shafiqullah got his side over the line with 51 off 24 balls.

The 24-year-old changed the complexion of the match by smashing Aizaz Khan for three sixes on the leg-side in the 17th over.

			Runs	Minutes	Balls
Tarakai	c Ahmed	b Tanwir Afzal	7	11	6
Shehzad	c Ahmed	b Amjad	68	70	53
Stanikzai	c Hayat	b Khan	13	32	21
Shafiqullah	not out		51	40	24
Nabi	not out		6	13	5
Extras		1nb 7w 0b 1lb	9
Bowler		Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wickets
Tanwir Afzal		3	0	19	1
Amjad		4	0	35	1
Ahmed		3	0	22	0
Ahmed		3	0	15	0
Khan		2	0	23	0
Khan		3	0	39	1

It keeps Afghanistan’s hopes of reaching the Super 10 phase of the World T20 alive. However, they will need the hosts to slip up either against Nepal later today or on Thursday against Hong Kong.

Both sides are making their debut in the fifth edition of the world event with the format extended to 16 teams this year.