Afghanistan And Namibia Maintain Winning Starts

Afghanistan And Namibia Maintain Winning Starts

Afghanistan all-rounder Karim Sadiq (nearest to camera) scored 91 and then took four wickets as his side comprehensively beat Denmark

©International Cricket Council

Afghanistan and Namibia have maintained their perfect records after three games of the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier 2012 in the United Arab Emirates.

There were also wins on the morning of day three for Ireland over Italy and Canada over Hong Kong.

GROUP A

Afghanistan outclassed Denmark and ran out 89-run winners. Karim Sadiq thumped 91 in 60 balls at the top of the order and Nawroz Mangal made 22 in 18 balls as they reached a score of 172 for five. That proved far beyond Denmark, who just avoided being dismissed as they closed on 93 for eight. Kamran Mahmood top scored with 25 as one of only two players who reached double figures. Sadiq completed an outstanding all-round performance with figures of four for 12.

Hong Kong struggled badly with the bat against Canada and could only limp to 81 for nine as Junaid Siddiqui continued his good tournament with a haul of three for 17. Babar Hayat top scored for Hong Kong with 36. Hiral Patel (40) and Nitish Kumar (22 not out) then helped Canada ease to an eight-wicket win with six overs to spare.

GROUP B

Namibia made it three wins from three by beating the United States of America by 17 runs. Raymond van Schoor thumped an unbeaten 79 in 55 balls, an innings which included 11 fours, and Craig Williams blasted 41 in 26 to build a total of 177 for four. USA then fought hard, with Aditya Mishra hitting 53 in 34 balls, but closed short on 160 for seven having delivered their most convincing performance of the tournament to date.

Ireland have not had things easy so far in the tournament and today's game against Italy continued that theme before they earned a two-wicket win. Michael di Venuto hit 23 and captain Alessandro Bonora 20 not out as Italy scored 100 for seven in their innings, Boyd Rankin returning three for 16. Ireland found batting similarly difficult, however, and it needed a calm unbeaten 31 in 32 balls from Gary Wilson to get them over the finishing line after Damian Crowley had picked up three for 16.

© Cricket World 2012