Jan.25 (CRICKETNMORE) - A 23-ball blitzkrieg of 66 from Azmatullah Omarzai was backed up by some precise bowling by spinners Mujeeb Zadran and Qais Ahmad as Afghanistan registered a thumping 202 runs victory over New Zealand to move into the Super League semi-finals of the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup in Christchurch on Thursday.
Azmatullah unleashed three fours and seven sixes as the Asian champions posted a mammoth 309 for six after electing to bat first in front of broadcast cameras at the Hagley Oval. New Zealand were bowled out for 107 with off-spinner Mujeeb (four for 14) and leg-spinner Qais (four for 33) mesmerising the host side’s batting.
Azmatullah, who was one of three players rested in Afghanistan’s last league match against Ireland which they lost by four runs, showed what the Afghanistan first-choice players are capable of as they get ready to take on three-time champions Australia in the first semi-final on Monday, 29 January, at the same venue.
Brief Scores
Super League quarter-final
Afghanistan beat New Zealand by 202 runs, Hagley Oval, Christchurch
Afghanistan 309-6, 50 overs (Rahmanullah Gurbaz 69, Ibrahim Zadran 68, Bahir Shah 67 not out, Azmatullah Omarzai 66; Sandeep Patel 2-13)
New Zealand 107 all out, 28.1 overs (Katen Clarke 38, Dale Philips 31; Mujeeb Zadran 4-14, Qais Ahmad 4-33)
Player of the match: Azmatullah Omarzai (Afghanistan)
ICC Media Release