Canada lost to Afghanistan in their toughest match to date at the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier in Dubai. The Afghans have yet to lose and are firmly establishing themselves as one of the top teams in Associate cricket. Three wickets in an over from Zahid Hussain had the Afghans in early trouble but a fine innings from Samiullah Shenwari saw them to a good total of 174/8. Shenwari was equally effective with the ball, taking 4/14, as Canada never really challenged the Afghan total, batting out their overs but falling 41 runs short.
Afghanistan batted first after winning the toss. Karim Sadiq got the innings off to a fast start, hitting four of the first eight balls he received to the boundary. Osinde stemmed the flow of runs conceding just three from his second over, then Zahid Hussain allowed just two singles from the fourth. Karim Sadiq smashed Osinde for a huge six over mid-wicket, and after 5 overs, Afghanistan were 38/0. Zahid Hussain made the first breakthrough, having Karim Sadiq top edge a catch to cover where it was well taken by Hansra. The very next ball, Shabir Noori tried to clear long-on but only succeeded in finding Patel on the ropes- 52/2. He took his third wicket in four balls when Nawroz Mangal was beaten in the flight and was well stumped by Bhatti. He completed his four over spell with figures of 3-16. After the flurry of wickets, Samiullah Shenwari and Mohammad Shahzad consolidated, taking advantage of some rusty bowling from Baidwan and bringing up the hundred in the 15th over. Mohammad Shahzad (27) was struggling with back problems before Baidwan bowled him trying to cut a straight ball – 133/4 after 17 overs. Samiullah Shenwari completed an excellent fifty from 32 balls with 7 boundaries. Nabi hit Baidwan only just over mid-wicket’s head for 6 but then was yorked. Baidwan’s 2 wickets cost 49 runs. Osinde bowled the final over; Samiullah Shenwari was run-out for 61 (34b 6×4 3×6), but a series of wides helped Afghanistan to a challenging total of 174/8.
Canada’s reply started out with two good lbw shouts against Patel, but two pulled boundaries from Gunasekera set them on their way. Patel was bowled by the spin of Karim Sadiq, playing on as he tried to cut a well-pitched up delivery and he was replaced by Junaid Siddiqui, promoted up the order. Gunasekera aimed for a third pulled boundary in the next over but only succeeded in finding the fielder at mid-wicket- 19/2. Kumar got off the mark with a superb back-foot straight drive for four. Junaid Siddiqui smashed a big six, but was lucky to escape being run-out when the bowler fumbled a return. He took two more boundaries off the next over, easily passing his best score for Canada in T20 cricket. He was bowled for a useful 21 from 11 balls trying to slog a straight ball. Samiullah Shenwari continued his excellent match with the ball, and Hansra was lbw for his second wicket. At the half-way mark Canada were 74/4, needing 10/ over to win. Cheema gave an easy catch from the first big shot he attempted, and Canada looked out of contention with five wickets down. Shenwari took his third and fourth wickets as Gordon missed a straight full toss and Baidwan hit a long-hop to mid-wicket – 4/14 from his spell. Kumar was brilliantly caught on the third man boundary for 38 from 34 balls. Osinde smashed a couple of big sixes but the target was out of reach. Canada managed to bat out their twenty overs but lost by 41 runs.