Twitter Reactions: Cutting, Shahidi and Shafiq guide Nangarhar Leopards home in closely-fought contest

Shahidi didn't play a shot out of anger to lent appropriate support to Shafiq with 26.

Published - 06 Oct 2018, 21:14 IST | Updated - 06 Oct 2018, 21:14 IST

3 Min Read

The second match of the inaugural edition of the Afghanistan Premier League (APL) between Nangarhar Leopards and Kandahar Knights in Sharjah turned out to be an exciting one. In the end, it was Ben Cutting’s men who comfortably emerged victorious by six wickets after finding themselves in a rather precarious position during the run chase.

Cutting dictates terms

The Knights won the toss and elected to bat first, but got off to a jittery start as they lost three wickets inside the first six overs. Mujeeb Ur Rahman got rid of Paul Stirling after which Brendon McCullum and Karim Sadiq couldn’t make an impact. To their dismay, skipper Asghar Afghan could only contribute three runs and perished to chinaman bowler Zahir Khan.

Karim Janat and Kevin O’Brien put on 37 runs and the duo was separated by part-timer Rahmat Shah with the wicket of the Irishman. Thereafter, Najibullah Zadran and Janat stitched together another useful 39-run stand to lay the platform for a final flourish. However, Ben Cutting picked up a five-wicket-haul to bowl the Knights out for 139 with nine balls left.

Leopards strain, but prevail

Najeeb Tarakai and Johnson Charles started the run-chase on a positive note with a partnership of 46 runs from 35 balls. Left-arm spinner Waqar Salamkheli dismissed Charles to break the ominous-looking stand. Tarakai also went in a few overs time and Rahmat Shah couldn’t deliver either. Anton Devcich looked to put his head down but fell prey to Karim Sadiq.

The onus was then on Hashmatullah Shahidi and Shafiqullah Shafiq to derail the innings and they did so expertly. Both cobbled together a stand of 64 runs to take the Leopards home with nine deliveries to spare. While Shafiq trod the attacking approach with a knock of 35, Shahidi didn’t play a shot out of anger to lent appropriate support to his partner with 26.

Here is how Twitter reacted

@BenCutting s hat-trick:
16.6: Amir Hamza is caught
19.1: Karim Janat is caught
19.2: Sayed Shirzad is caught
He finishes with 5 for 28 as well. #APLT20 #AfghanistanPremierLeague
— Wolverine (@Wolveri69153842) October 6, 2018

Karim Sadiq after stumping Rahmat Shah comes to bowl & picks big wicket of Anton Devcich on just his third delivery.#APLT20
— Peeyush Sharma (@peeyushsharmaa) October 6, 2018

Karim Sadiq who was keeping in the match so far Is now bowling.Captain Asghar Afghan Is keeping😂 #APLT20
— Karthik Raj (@kartcric) October 6, 2018

Sayed Shirzad is Also bowling well.He was in The Asia Cup squad.More and More Brickbats for The Selectors and Team management.#APLT20
— Karthik Raj (@kartcric) October 6, 2018

Ben Cutting's 5-wicket haul in 4 overs certainly put a dent in Kandahar's score!#ACB #AfghanistanPremierLeague #Cricket pic.twitter.com/KB9BD1h6MR
— Afghanistan Premier League (@APLT20official) October 6, 2018

Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Zahir Khan, Mitchell Mcclenghan, Andre Russell, Sandeep Lamichane, Ben Cutting. Quality and variety of bowlers that team Nangarhar Leopards possess in this #APLT20. Easily the best in this tournament
— Sriram (@SriramARR) October 6, 2018

Just Can't Understand why Tymal Mills keeps bowling short.His Pace will trouble These guys.Just Bowl As Full as Possible.#APLT20 #APL2018
— Karthik Raj (@kartcric) October 6, 2018