Shahzad, Stanikzai ‘smash’ half tons, Afghans sink Scots – Scotland still winless

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Afghanistan’s Mohammad Shahzad (right), is watched by Scotland’s wicketkeeper Matt Cross as he plays a shot during the ICC World T20 cricket tournament match between Afghanistan and Scotland at The Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur on March 8. (AFP)
Afghanistan’s Mohammad Shahzad (right), is watched by Scotland’s wicketkeeper Matt Cross as he plays a shot during the ICC World T20 cricket tournament match between Afghanistan and Scotland at The Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur on March 8. (AFP)

NAGPUR, India, March 8, (Agencies): Opening batsman Mohammad Shahzad and captain Asghar Stanikzai smashed half-centuries as Afghanistan defeated Scotland by 14 runs in the World Twenty20 on Tuesday.

Shahzad hit five fours and three sixes in a superb display of power hitting to make 61 off 39 balls, while Stanikzai’s unbeaten 50-ball knock of 55 helped Afghanistan reach 170-5 in the first round Group B match.

Scotland couldn’t capitalize on a solid opening stand of 84 runs off 53 balls between George Munsey (41) and Kyle Coetzer (40) to finish on 156-5, with Afghanistan hitting back through leg-spinner Rashid Khan, who took 2-28.

“We started off well with the bat today and we were happy with the total because these are big boundaries,” Stanikzai said. “The wicket was a slow one … (and) it helped spinners.”

Munsey and Coetzer belted seamers for 53 runs in the first five overs but both departed in the space of three deliveries. Scotland is yet to register a win in World Twenty20 cricket after making winless appearances in the 2007 and 2009 editions.

Coetzer holed out at deep square leg off a short delivery by leg-spinner Samiullah Shenwari and Khan trapped Munsey leg before wicket off a fast leg-cutter in the next over.

“We had a great start, but couldn’t keep the foot on the accelerator and stay ahead,” Scotland captain Preston Mommsen said.

“I think if we had kept them down to 10-15 runs less in the first half, it would have been a good reflection of our effort.”

Earlier, Shahzad dominated an 82-run second wicket stand off 55 balls with Stanikzai, before he perished in the 13th over, caught at long on. Stanikzai, who won the toss and opted to bat, remained at the crease as Afghanistan lost three wickets in the last seven overs.

Zimbabwe earlier defeated Hong Kong by 14 runs in another Group B match. The top team will advance to the Super 10 stage and join England, West Indies, Sri Lanka and South Africa in Group 1.

Meanwhile, New Zealand captain Kane Williamson on Tuesday said his side would pay tribute at the World Twenty20 to legendary batsman Martin Crowe who died last week aged just 53.

Crowe, who enjoyed a 13-year international career from 1982-95, including four years as captain, passed away in Auckland after a battle with a rare form of blood cancer called double-hit lymphoma.

“Obviously it was a really sad time, particularly for Martin’s family and there’s some guys in the side who were very close to him,” Williamson told reporters in Mumbai.

New Zealand take on hosts India in Nagpur on March 15 in the first game of the 16-team competition’s Super 10 group stage.

New Zealand, ranked fourth in the world in short-form T20 cricket, will be looking to cause an upset against the number one-ranked Indians.

“No doubt India will be possibly the favourites for this tournament but I think all the teams will come here thinking they can win it,” said Williamson.

“Twenty20 cricket is pretty fickle and I think all sides are playing good cricket.

“We’ve got a tough match first up but we’ll be preparing as best we can in these conditions and it would be great to get off to a good start and hopefully carry a bit of momentum throughout the tournament,” he added.

A strong showing by New Zealand on the subcontinent would be a fitting tribute to Crowe, who during his retirement devised a new ultra-short form of the game called Cricket Max for his new employer Sky Television.

It helped lay the foundations for Twenty20 cricket.

Crowe had a Test average of 45.36 in 77 matches and held a slew of New Zealand batting records when he retired, including most Test runs (5,444), highest Test score (299), most 50s (35) and most hundreds (17).

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