Monday October 22, 2018
Kabul (BNA) Balkh Legends cricket team in the final match of Afghanistan Premier League succeeded to defeat Kabul Zwanan cricket team at Sharjah Cricket Association Stadium on Sunday night.
Kabul Zwanan won the toss and decided to bat against Balkh Legend.
Chasing 133, Kabul managed only 24 runs from their last five over losing five wickets.
It was Qais Ahmad who set up the win for Balkh Legends in the inaugural APL final with his spell of 5/18. His five-fer was the key as Legends restricted Kabul Zwanan to 132/9 in their 20 overs.
Kabul’s innings, after Rashid Khan opted to bat, was a middling affair. Luke Ronchi and Hazratullah Zazai fell inside five overs and after a positive stand, the South African pair ofColin Ingram and Wayne Parnell fell in quick succession to leave Kabul 65/4 in the 11th over. Ahmad began with the wicket of Parnell for 21 off 25 balls and then ransacked the middle order, with Laurie Evans, Javed Ahmadi and Rashid Khan falling to his spin as the innings gave way. Ahmad added Muslim Musa to complete his five-wicket haul.
Brief scores: Balkh Legends 138/6 in 18.1 overs (Gayle 56, Bopara 32*, Parnell 3/35) beat Kabul Zwanan 132/9 in 20 overs (Ahmadi 32, Ahmed 5/18) by four wickets.
Balkh Legends – Chris Gayle, Darwish Rasooli, Colin Munro, Mohammad Nabi (c), Ravi Bopara, Ryan ten Doeschate, Gulbadin Naib, Ikram Ali Khil (wk), Mirwais Ashraf, Qais Ahmad, Aftab Alam
Kabul Zwanan – Luke Ronchi (wk), Hazratullah Zazai, Wayne Parnell, Colin Ingram, Javed Ahmadi, Laurie Evans, Shahidullah Kamal, Rashid Khan (c), Muslim Musa, Nasir Totakhil, Fareed Ahmad
A.B.Maseer
