ICC World T20 2016 Results: Updated Schedule, Tables After Tuesday's Scores
Afghanistan got their ICC World T20 campaign off to a perfect start on Tuesday, as they notched a 14-run win over Scotland in Nagpur.
A classy 61 from Mohammad Shahzad set up a total of 170 for five for Afghanistan and while Scotland got off to a strong start, none of their star players were able to push on after getting themselves set. Eventually, they finished up on 156 for five from their 20 overs at the crease.
Earlier in the day, Zimbabwe prevailed in the first match of the tournament with a 14-run victory over Hong Kong.
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Vusi Sibanda's 59 and a late 13-ball 30 from Elton Chigumbura saw Zimbabwe to 158 from their 20 overs in the Group B clash. Hong Kong started their chase steadily before some big-hitting from Jamie Atkinson gave them a sniff of a big upset, but some tight Zimbabwean bowling eventually proved too good.
Here are the results, standings and schedule, as well as a look back two fine matches to get the tournament underway.
| Group A | Mat | Won | Lost | Tied | NR | Pts | NRR |
| Bangladesh | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 |
| Ireland | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 |
| Netherlands | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 |
| Oman | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 |
| Group B | Mat | Won | Lost | Tied | NR | Pts | NRR |
| Zimbabwe | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | +0.700 |
| Afghanistan | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | +0.700 |
| Scotland | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -0.700 |
| Hong Kong | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -0.700 |
| Match | Group/Stage | Date | Time (GMT) | Fixture |
| Match 3 | Group A | Wednesday, Mar 9 | 9:30 a.m. | Bangladesh vs. Netherlands |
| Match 4 | Group A | Wednesday, Mar 9 | 2 p.m. | Ireland vs. Oman |
| Match 5 | Group B | Thursday, Mar 10 | 9:30 a.m. | Scotland vs. Zimbabwe |
| Match 6 | Group B | Thursday, Mar 10 | 2 p.m. | Hong Kong vs. Afghanistan |
| Match 7 | Group A | Friday, Mar 11 | 9:30 a.m. | Netherlands vs. Oman |
| Match 8 | Group A | Friday, Mar 11 | 2 p.m. | Bangladesh vs. Ireland |
| Match 9 | Group B | Saturday, Mar 12 | 9:30 a.m. | Zimbabwe vs. Afghanistan |
| Match 10 | Group B | Saturday, Mar 12 | 2 p.m. | Scotland vs. Hong Kong |
| Match 11 | Group A | Sunday, Mar 13 | 9:30 a.m. | Netherlands vs. Ireland |
| Match 12 | Group A | Sunday, Mar 13 | 2 p.m. | Bangladesh vs. Oman |
| Match 13 | Group 2 | Tuesday, Mar 15 | 2 p.m. | New Zealand vs. India |
| Match 14 | Group 2 | Wednesday, Mar 16 | 9:30 a.m. | Pakistan vs. A1 |
| Match 15 | Group 1 | Wednesday, Mar 16 | 2 p.m. | West Indies vs. England |
| Match 16 | Group 1 | Thursday, Mar 17 | 2 p.m. | Sri Lanka vs. B1 |
| Match 17 | Group 2 | Friday, Mar 18 | 9:30 a.m. | Australia vs. New Zealand |
| Match 18 | Group 1 | Friday, Mar 18 | 2 p.m. | South Africa vs. England |
| Match 19 | Group 2 | Saturday, Mar 19 | 2 p.m. | India vs. Pakistan |
| Match 20 | Group 1 | Sunday, Mar 20 | 9:30 a.m. | South Africa vs. B1 |
| Match 21 | Group 1 | Sunday, Mar 20 | 2 p.m. | Sri Lanka vs. West Indies |
| Match 22 | Group 2 | Monday, Mar 21 | 2 p.m. | Australia vs. A1 |
| Match 23 | Group 2 | Tuesday, Mar 22 | 2 p.m. | New Zealand vs. Pakistan |
| Match 24 | Group 1 | Wednesday, Mar 23 | 9:30 a.m. | England vs. B1 |
| Match 25 | Group 2 | Wednesday, Mar 23 | 2 p.m. | India vs. A1 |
| Match 26 | Group 2 | Friday, Mar 25 | 9:30 a.m. | Pakistan vs. Australia |
| Match 27 | Group 1 | Friday, Mar 25 | 2 p.m. | South Africa vs. West Indies |
| Match 28 | Group 2 | Saturday, Mar 26 | 9:30 a.m. | A1 vs. New Zealand |
| Match 29 | Group 1 | Saturday, Mar 26 | 2 p.m. | Sri Lanka vs. England |
| Match 30 | Group 1 | Sunday, Mar 27 | 9:30 a.m. | B1 vs. West Indies |
| Match 31 | Group 2 | Sunday, Mar 27 | 2 p.m. | India vs. Australia |
| Match 32 | Group 1 | Monday, Mar 28 | 2 p.m. | South Africa vs. Sri Lanka |
| Semi-Final 1 | Knockout | Wednesday, Mar 30 | 1:30 p.m. | TBD vs. TBD |
| Semi-Final 2 | Knockout | Thursday, Mar 31 | 1:30 p.m. | TBD vs. TBD |
| Final | Knockout | Sunday, Apr 3 | 1:30 p.m. | TBD vs. TBD |
Afghanistan vs. Scotland
Afghanistan 170 for five (Shahzad 61, Asghar 55) beat Scotland 156 for five (Munsey 41, Coetzer 40) by 14 runs.
Click here for full scorecard.
After winning the toss and deciding to bat the pressure was on the Afghans' top order to fire and Shahzad, undeniably their best player, lead from the front.
The opener played with purpose and poise during his time at the crease, which is never easy in the first game of a major tournament. Indeed, his knock of 61 runs came from just 39 balls, of which five were fours and three were sixes.
Cricket reporter Peter Miller noted the improvements made in Shahzad’s play as of late and how much better his game looks because of it:
Supporting the opener were Asghar Stanikzai, who anchored the innings with a fine 55 not out from 50 balls. Then at the death, with Afghanistan needing a late surge, Shafiqullah delivered, hitting 14 from just five balls and helping his side post a testing total of 170.
While a target of 171 can be tough from 120 balls, the Scotland openers looked as though they were going to build the foundations for a comfortable win.
George Munsey (41) and Kyle Coetzer (40) put on 84 for the opening wicket inside nine overs. But when they each fell in the space of three balls, suddenly 85 for two wasn’t looking particularly healthy.
In a small silver lining for the Scotland openers, they did set a new landmark with their stand, per ESPNcricinfo’s Bharath Seervi:
Sadly for them, it would not pave the way to victory as from there, with the run rate rapidly rising, Scotland toiled. Wickets didn’t come in bursts, but the subtle spin variations of Amir Hamza and Rashid Khan made scoring difficult for the Scotland batsman, who were left frustrated as their chances of a win whittled away.
Matt Machan was able to strike 36 from 31 balls in the next best effort, but it ultimately proved to be a futile resistance, as Afghanistan were comfortable in the final two overs.
Scotland will be mightily disappointed not to have capitalised on such a positive start to the chase, although credit must go to the Afghanistan spinners, who sucked the life out of the innings with their controlled bowling, and Shahzad, who is a player that looks primed to light up this World Cup.
Zimbabwe vs. Hong Kong
Zimbabwe 158 for 8 (Sibanda 59, Chigumbura 30) beat Hong Kong 144 for 6 (Atkinson 53, Afzal 31) by 14 runs.
Click here for full scorecard.
Hong Kong won the toss and opted to field first. Zimbabwe got off to a flying start as Sibanda and Hamilton Masakadza both found their groove early on.
Masakadza hit 20 off 13 balls before he was run out in the third over. Zimbabwe's run rate then slowed slightly after the early blitz.
Indeed, when their fourth wicket fell for 62 in the eighth over, the African side were struggling.
Crucially, though, Sibanda was still at the crease and his steady progress proved vital. He picked up the pace slightly and reached his fifty with a six, per Cricbuzz:
Chigumbura joined him in the middle when Malcolm Waller was dismissed for a useful 26, and he provided the necessary big-hitting that would prove the difference in the end.
Three sixes from the No. 7 moved Zimbabwe's score beyond the 150 mark, and Hong Kong will have been disappointed by some loose late bowling.
Atkinson was the key man for Hong Kong as they looked to chase down the 159 target. He led from the front, his 53 coming off 44 balls before he was dismissed by Donald Tiripano in the 17th over with the score at 108 for 4.
Some quick runs from Anshuman Rath and captain Tanwir Afzal then gave Hong Kong a slight chance of pulling off a victory.
However, a couple of late wickets slowed the tempo and they were left needing 23 runs from the last over, with Tiripano then restricting Hong Kong brilliantly to hand Zimbabwe a 14-run triumph.
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