Another Afghan wicket under threat

Oman beat Afghanistan by 21 runs in a game dominated by both teams' bowlers, backed up by fielding that was quite superb at times.

"It happens like this at youth level quite often," says ACC Development Officer Roger Binny, who was watching the match, "bowlers mature earlier than batsmen." The net result for this opening match in the ACC U-17 Challenge Cup was a low-scoring game which, for all the aggressive intent shown by the teenage batsmen, saw the bowlers invariably having the final say.

But it was close.

Putting the opposition in after winning the toss, Afghanistan struck in the third over and then the fourth to have both Omani openers back in their tent. Left-hander Afzal Khan with a long, loping run-up firing in full-pitched deliveries and Hijratullah Ahmadzai finding lift on a wicket that played true all day.

The Afghan pace-bowlers did well, their spinners did even better, the ball really gripping on the surface. Oman's Number 3 Gaurav Honavar should have been run-out on 2 and was dropped on 13, but his 41 (off 103 deliveries) held the innings together. A compact left-hander who likes to drive through the off, he punished anything loose. But loose balls there were few as Afghanistan really showed tremendous aptitude in the field. They looked fitter than any other youth side from their country.

Oman's Gaurav Honavar

Oman finished on 111. Very gettable. That Afghanistan didn't was down to some exceptional fielding and strategy by the Omanis. They dropped some catches but the ones they took were outstanding, none more so than Kunal Pandya's catch off a skier from Afzal Khan (17 off 7 deliveries, 2 fours and a six) in the 19th over. Afzal had been hitting ferociously and would have taken the game away from Oman if he'd been in for a few overs more.

Afghanistan's Afzal Khan

Oman even dismissed an Afghan 'handled ball' which demonstrated their street-fighting skills as they gave absolutely no quarter to an Afghan side still showing their relative inexperience. Six in each side were played in the 2007 ACC U-15 Elite Cup, but the Omanis just looked like they knew how to shape the course of a game better than the Afghans. The Afghans are quick learners however, and this defeat will have taught them much. Both teams with these bowlers, still could win through to the Final.

ACC U-17 Challenge Cup
Afghanistan v Oman at Chiang Mai Gymkhana
OMAN WON BY 21 RUNS
Afghanistan won the toss and elected to field
Oman: 111 off 38.3 overs (G. Honavar 41; Z. Danish 3-21, N.Zadaran 3-6)
Afghanistan: 90 off 27.4 overs (K.Daswal 5-20)
Man of the Match: Kshitij Daswal (Oman)
Scorecard

Pictures courtesy of Eric Little

Filed November 17 2008