While the opening partnership was a little bit disappointing compared to the last match against Maldives, the middle-order did a amazing job. But it was the lower order who brought flavor in to the Afghanistan innings. Amir Khan played a fabulous innings of 85 runs out of 35 balls with the strike rate of 242.
As good as Amir Khan looked unstoppable he lost his wicket while going after a short and wide delivery of Bhutan's leg-spin captain, he was stumped by the Bhutanese wicket keeper. After the departure of Amir Khan, Gulabudin Naib took Bhutan bowlers to 6's and 4's in his usual explosive style.
In last over of the match Afghanistan captain Hamid Hassan smashed 4 consecutive sixes and the on 5th ball of the over he took a single and left the strike to Gulbadin who finished the Afghan innings with style by smashing another HUGE 6 of the last ball of the last over.
Afghanistan fall 5 runs short of 300, but 295 runs was a mountain to climb for Bhutan's cricket team. Early fall of wickets didn't help the Bhutanese team. While Afghan bowlers were charging from one end the Bhutan players couldn't handle the pressure of Afghan pace and wickets were fall as the leaves of the trees in autumn.
During 16th over Gulabudin Naib was given ball and he dismissed Bhutan's captain with a perfect yorker and went on and took another wicket with another beautiful yorker in the next delivery. He was on hat-trick, but luck was not on his side and he couldn't collect the third wicket. During 19th over Hamid Hassan took his first wicket of the tournament by trapping Bhutan tailender to leg before, in the same over he took out leg stump out the ground and it was his second wicket of the match and the tournament as well. Dawalt Zadran was given responsibility to bowl the last over, he was unable to take any wickets but he kept Bhutan quiet. At the end of 20th over Bhutan were only 71 for the lost of 8 wickets and they lost the match by 225 runs, so far 71 is the lowest total made by a team in this tournament.
Man of the match was awarded to Amir Khan for his fiery 85. Afghanistan and Maldives both secures a semi-final spot. Afghanistan will find out his semi-final opponent after Nepal and Pakistan face each other tomorrow.
