Zimbabwe, Afghanistan win in WT20 qualifiers

Nagpur, March 11: Zimbabwe bowled impressively to script a 11-run victory over Scotland to post their second consecutive win in the qualifying round of the World T20 cricket tournament here on Thursday. In another match later in the day, Afghanistan defeated Hong Kong by six wickets. Hong Kong posted 116/6 thanks to the knocks of Ryan Campbell (27) and Anshuman Rath (28). For the Afghans, Mohammed Nabi picked up four wickets for 20 runs.

In reply, the Afghans lost four wickets but won with two overs to spare. Openers Mohammad Shehzad (41) and Noor Ali Zadran (35) posted 70 to smoothen their path to victory. Earlier, Zimbabwe dumped Scotland out of the tournament with two defeats in a row and moved closer towards qualification for the main stage of the tournament.

Zimbabwe batted first and posted a fighting 147/7 thanks to Seam Williams’ 36-ball 53. Williams came to the crease in the fifth over and stayed till the 18th over. It was only his second half century in T20 Internationals. Scotland needed 30 runs off the last three overs with three wickets in hand, but faltered at the end. Donald Tiripano (2/20 in 3.4 overs) and Tinashe Panyangara (1/20) bowled intelligently in the 18th and 19th overs respectively to restrict Scotland.

They carried on the good work done by pacer Wellington Masakadza who grabbed 4 for 28. Scotland were down in the dumps at 42/5 in the eighth over but Richie Berrington (36) and Preston Mommsen (31) put on 51 runs for the sixth wicket to revive their hopes. But in the end it was not adequate.

Brief scores: Zimbabwe 147/7 in 20 overs (Sean Willians 53, Elton Chigumbura 20, Mark Watt 2/21); Scotland 136 in 19.4 overs (Richie Berrington 36, Preston Mommsen 31, Wellington Masakadza 4/28, Donald Tiripano 2/20).

Hong Kong 116/6 (Ryan Campbell 27, Anshuman Rath 28, Mohammed Nabi 4/20); Afghanistan 119/4 (Mohammad Shehzad 41, Noor Ali Zadran 35, Ryan Campbell 2/28) (IANS)