Afghanistan make it four in four

Afghanistan made it four wins out of four when they defeated Hong Kong by four wickets in the World Cricket League on Wednesday.

A fine all-round performance from Mohammad Nabi helped Afghanistan secure their latest win which puts them well on the way to promotion to Division Three and a step closer to the final qualifier for the 2011 World Cup to be held next year. Nabi took 5 for 32 before cracking 70 runs.

Hong Kong were cruising to 152 for 2 from 40 overs, until Nabi tied them down to restrict their last ten overs.

Zain Abbas top scored with 69 and, together with Roy Lamsam (35), the pair added 84 for the third wicket. Nabi had other ideas, however, rattling through Hong Kong's middle and lower order to restrict Afghanistan's target to 207. Afghanistan were 48 for 3 before Nowroz Mangal and Nabi turned the match on its head with a decisive 105-run fourth-wicket partnership.

Mangal fell shortly after notching his fifty, but Nabi continued with three sixes in a sparkling 78-ball 70.

Jersey got their first win of the tournament with a 79-run win over Fiji while the clash between Tanzania and Italy was abandoned due to rain and will be played on Thursday.

DAR ES SALAAM, Thursday, AFP