MCC v Afghanistan, List A Game, Review: Rain cuts short Afghanistan’s Lord’s debut

As many as 8,000 fans had come out to support their national team Afghanistan at the Lord’s Stadium but were left exasperated with the rain interrupting the game intermittently. Asghar Stanikzai won the toss and asked the MCC to bat first. It was a dark and chilly day in London hence, Stanikzai wanted to make the best use of the seaming conditions.

Zardan strikes with the new cherry

Shapoor Zardan bowled with a lot of heart with the new ball and bounced out McCullum in the 3rd over of the game. Four overs later, former Pakistan captain and recently retired Misbah Ul Haq was walking back to the pavilion after edging a short ball to the keeper off Shapoor. Sam Hain, still daunted by the turn of events at the very ground three days ago, started nervously, taking 17 balls to get off the mark. He gradually started getting better and in company of the experienced Chanderpaul sewed an 88 run stand before the former West Indian was forced to retired hurt after getting hit by a short ball.

Chanderpaul’s exit brought Samit Patel to the middle, who has been in red-hot form in county cricket. Patel stitched a 62 run stand with Hain after which the opener was holed out at deep midwicket for a fine 76. When the rain intervened for the second time after just 18 overs were bowled, the players took lunch in the 135 minute break in a bid to save some time. It was only after this intervention that the game was reduced to a 40 over each side contest.

Samit Patel gives innings impetus

Shapoor had his third victim, all caught behind by the keeper when he forced Chris Read to drive which was neatly taken by the Shafiqullah. The tall fast bowler finished with 3/29, by far the best bowler on display on a cold day in London. The innings was left to resurrect by Samit, who scored a breezy 47-ball 55 showcasing the outstanding form he has displayed through the summer. When Rashid was introduced to bowl the 15th over, the crowd went ballistic to see the star bowler in action. The leg-spinner, who plays for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL, didn’t do much of note as he returned with 1/39 off 8 overs, claiming the wickets of the dangerous looking Samit Patel in his final over.

Mohammad Nabi bowled tightly and returned with 0/34 after 9 overs. The crowd was expecting him to play an attractive knock at No. 4 but he never got an opportunity to bat as the rain stopped play 5 overs into the Afghanistan innings. After hitting two boundaries, Noor Ali Zadran was castled by Rushworth in the third over. Javed Ahmadi remained solid at 13 not out whereas No. 3 Nasir Jamal faced just a solitary delivery which he scythed for a boundary. The game was called off after the final rain intervention which didn’t stop until 90 minutes.

Brief Scores

MCC – 217 for 6 in 40 overs (Sam Hain 76, Samit Patel 53, Shapoor Zardan 3/29).

Afghanistan – 31 for 1 in 5 overs (Javed Ahmadi 13*, Chris Rushworth1/18).