Hong Kong beat Afghanistan off the last ball of the match to qualify for the World T20 in India in 2016.
Hong Kong’s chase of Afghanistan’s 161 for 7 sprang to life with the arrival of Mark Chapman, who demonstrated the urgency that was sorely needed earlier with 40 off 25 balls. The 21-year-old vice-captain frequently shuffled around the crease for paddles and scoops to throw the Afghanistan bowlers off their lengths.
Hong Kong scored 12 runs in the 16th, 17th and 18th overs, with Chapman doing the majority of the damage including a crisp six over long-off in that stretch. He ramped another four past fine leg in the 19th and a single off the last ball of that over kept him on strike with Hong Kong needing 16 off the final over.
Mark Chapman attempted to clear midwicket from the first ball of Mohammad Nabi’s over, but was brilliantly caught on the boundary. If it seemed as if Hong Kong’s chances of victory had gone, Babar Hayat thought otherwise. He swatted the next delivery through fine leg for four, and then launched the third ball of the over, another full toss, over midwicket for six. That took the equation down to six runs from three balls, and Nabi then bowled a wide to knock another run off the target. Babar then scampered a three to the long boundary at midwicket, before Tanwir Afzal was run out attempting a single. That left two required from the final ball of the match, which Hayat slapped through midwicket to secure qualification.
Afghanistan’s total of 161-7 had appeared to set up the encounter seemed perfectly and so it proved, as an enthralling run chase played out. Hong Kong’s intent was clear from Irfan Ahmed’s two emphatic straight sixes in the opening four overs. After he was dismissed for 16, Jamie Atkinson and Niakhat Khan added 51 for the second wicket, though Hong Kong slipped below the required rate. Niazkhat was well caught at third man. Soon after Atkinson, who played responsibly for 47 and nonchalantly swatted a couple of sixes over long on, was caught at long off.
That left Hong Kong needing 64 from 5.1 overs – an onerous task against Afghanistan’s bowling attack. But Mark Chapman played an innings that showcased his timing, improvisation, power and purpose running between the wickets to set up the thrilling denouement.
The day began with Afghanistan winning the toss and choosing to bat: a surprising decision given the 10am start at Malahide on a slightly overcast day. Mohammad Shazhad, Afghanistan’s chunky opener, did not seem perturbed by the conditions as he powered Tanwir Afzal for two straight boundaries in the opening over of the match. But off the first over in the fourth over he attempted to flat-bat Haseeb Amjad down the ground, and could only get a leading edge to third man, where Aizaz Khan snaffled a sharp chance. Five immaculate deliveries to Asghar Stanikzai followed as Haseeb recorded a wicket maiden: a rare achievement in Twenty20cricket, especially in the Powerplay.
With Nadeem Ahmed continuing the form he displayed in taking 5-12 against Namibia, Hong Kong established a measure of control. After eight overs Afghanistan had scored only 50 runs, but, with only one wicket down, they had developed a platform from which to accelerate. Irfan was hit for two sixes in his first over as Stanikzai and Nawroz Mangal bristled with intent.
Aizaz Khan was hit for boundaries from his opening two deliveries, but his response highlighted his character. Varying his length and delivering well-directed yorkers, he conceded only two runs from his next seven balls that included removing Stanikzai for 29 with a delivery that was full and jagged back late, and left Afghanistan 85-2 off 11.1 overs.
With Mangal making a cultured 53, Afghanistan continued to accelerate. But Afghanistan’s assault was less spectacular than they would have envisaged, with Haseeb once again outstanding in the death overs.
Hong Kong never wilted in the field, with Chapman taking two smart catches at long on to prevent Afghanistan reaching 170. But Hong Kong’s best moment of the innings came when Najibullah Zadran heaved Irfan to midwicket and Kinchit Shah proceeded to take a spectacular diving catch.
