Ireland Felled By Afghanistan As Super Eights Begin

Ireland Felled By Afghanistan As Super Eights Begin

Rais Ahmadzai (left) drives past Boyd Rankin during his half-century for Afghanistan against Ireland.

©ICC

Afghanistan pulled off a stunning 22-run win over Ireland that both enhanced their World Cup qualification hopes and threw the Super Eights of the World Cup Qualifier wide open in South Africa.

A five-wicket burst from Hamid Hassan helped Afghanistan bowl Ireland out for just 196, despite rallying half-centuries from Andrew White (56) and Kevin O'Brien (52). After Rais Ahmadzai made an unbeaten 50 and Mohammad Shehzad 46 for Afghanistan as they reached 218 for seven in Krugersdorp, Hassan returned five for 23 in nine overs. White, along with Peter Connell, had earlier taken two wickets. Scorecard | Video Footage

Scotland had their fast bowlers to thank after they pulled off a 26-run victory over the Netherlands. Gavin Hamilton registered 59 from the top of Scotland's order before their next six batsmen made just 25 runs and they were indebted to an unbeaten 80 from Jan Stander as Edgar Schiferli picked up four for 37. A fine spell of bowling from John Blain (5-45) turned the game in Scotland's favour and despite Bas Zuiderent's 67, the Netherlands were beaten. Scorecard

Canada continued their fine run of form with a seven-wicket win over Kenya which put them on top of the Super Eight table. Opening bowler Henry Osinde took four for 39 while Khurram Chohan and Rizwan Cheema picked up two wickets as Kenya were bowled out for just 181, Jimmy Kamande top scoring with 61. Canada then raced to their target with Cheema in blistering form, smashing 49 in 24 balls with four fours and five sixes before unbeaten innings of 40 from Ashish Bagai and 36 from Ian Billcliff saw them home in the 36th over. Scorecard

Namibia beat the United Arab Emirates by 49 runs to join them on four points in Pretoria. Steady batting helped them reach 280 for seven with captain Louis Burger making 61 and Nicolaas Schultz 57 as they made a good recovery from falling to eight for two early on. UAE lost wickets early but were unable to recover, closing on 219 for nine with Louis Klazinga taking three for 44 and Deon Kotze two for 27. Scorecard

An outstanding all-round performance from Nihal Bibodi set up a 62-run win for Uganda over Denmark in Potchefstroom. Bibodi scored an unbeaten 104 in 104 balls, supported by Joel Olweny's 57 as Uganda piled up 292 for six; Basir Shah was Denmark's most successful bowler with two for 54. Mickey Lund hit 59 from the top of the order but the rest of the batting fell away and they only got relatively close thanks to unbeaten innings from Henrik Hansen (45) and David Borcherson (36). They closed on 230 for eight but not before Bibodi had grabbed two wickets, as did Akbar Daig. Scorecard

Uganda will face Bermuda in the play-off for ninth place after a David Hemp century enabled them to beat Oman by eight wickets in a high-scoring encounter in Potchefstroom. Hemp was unbeaten on 124 and Stephen Outerbridge scored 91 as Bermuda reached their victory target of 255 in the 48th over. Half-centuries for Sultan Ahmed (62), Hemin Desai (58) and Syed Amir Ali (51) saw Oman bowled out for 254 in 48.1 overs as Rodney Trott picked up four for 43. Scorecard

© Cricket World 2009

ICC World Cup Qualifier 2008/09 Super Eight Table