Afghanistan 182/7 (50 overs)
M Shahzad c. + W Barresi b. M Bukhari 5 (11)
N Ali Zadran c. T Cooper b. M Bukhari 11 (13)
S Noori c. + W Barresi b. M Bukhari 7 (15)
N Mangal c. + W Barresi b. A Malik 2 (4)
M Nabi b. T van der Gugten 13 (18)
S Shenwari st. W Barresi b. P Seelaar 37 (62)
A Khan st. W Barresi b. P Seelaar 28 (57)
M Ashraf not out 48 (66)
H Hassan not out 29 (54)
H Notak
S Zadran
Bowling:
M Bukhari 10-0-3-38
A Malik 7-0-1-30
T van der Gugten 10-0-1-33
R ten Doeschate 7-0-0-24
P Borren 7-0-0-22
P Seelaar 9-0-2-35
Well it wasn't the explosive finish that Afghanistan would have liked but at least they managed to bat through the 50 overs. Ashraf took a liking to Seelaar and took a few boundaries late in his spell but van der Gugten and Bukhari did well in the final few overs to restrict them to only 182. Ashraf was unlucky not to bring up his 50, after a very good innings, finishing 2 runs shy of the mark. Hassan batted well, in their unbeaten 76 run partnership. Bukhari had to be the pick of the bowlers, taking 3 wickets in his opening spell and only conceding 8 runs from his final 3 overs to restrict Afghanistan during the death overs. Everybody bowled well though and the Netherlands would be happy with their performance, although after their start, may have liked to have bowled Afghanistan out.
It should be a relatively straight forward chase for the Netherlands with their impressive top and middle order, but anything can happen.
----------
Netherlands 38/1 (10 overs)
S Myburgh lbw H Hassan 12 (27)
M Swart not out 21 (24)
T Cooper not out 4 (9)
Bowling:
M Ashraf 4-0-0-14
S Zadran 4-0-0-13
H Hassan 2-0-1-11
Even start. Swart looks very good at the crease, hitting two boundaries, one down the ground and one, coming from a misfield at third man. Afghanistan would have been happy to get the wicket of Myburgh, who had trouble playing the new ball, but hit two beautifully timed boundaries, one through mid off and one through the covers for four. He ended up being trapped by a yorker from Hassan. The umpire surprisingly gave it not out to start with and Mangal had no hesitation in asking for the review, as it pitched on leg, hitting in line and hitting leg and middle, not even halfway up and the decision was overturned. Afghanistan wasted their referral on Swart though, as he got across his stumps, and was hit outside the line, and the ball was missing offstump anyway, so it was a wasted review. Afghanistan would have liked another early wicket, but if they can get Swart in the next 5 overs, they're in with a real chance.
----------
Netherlands 90/3 (20 overs)
S Myburgh lbw H Hassan 12 (27)
M Swart c. M Nabi b. M Ashraf 24 (28)
T Cooper not out 32 (37)
R ten Doeschate c & b. M Ashraf 4 (5)
A Kervezee not out 17 (23)
Bowling:
M Ashraf 6-0-2-19
S Zadran 7-0-0-28
H Hassan 4-0-1-18
S Shenwari 3-0-0-25
Well I'd still put Netherlands on top at this stage. Ashraf made use of his last 2 overs, getting Swart with a slower ball as Swart couldn't keep it on the ground and chipped an easy catch to Nabi before ten Doeschate was a bit unlucky, as he drove Ashraf back down the ground but Ashraf stuck a hand out and managed to hold onto the catch. Cooper has really made his presence felt though, as he took to the leg spinner, Shenwari in his first over overs, as he got too straight and was swept and glanced away for a number of boundaries from Cooper, including a beautiful straight drive back down the ground. Kervezee has been watchful, but has shown his class with two magnificent straight drives off Zadran back down the ground ensuring Netherlands wouldn't get behind in their run chase.
Afghanistan have still got the spinner, Notak and also Nabi up their sleeves so they have enough bowling depth and one of those two will definitely need to be brought into the attack soon, you would think, to try and break this already building partnership.
----------
and the game just froze so I'll just download the new update and play my original Warwickshire game. Actually, I'll just test to see if Warwickshire works okay and then do something else
