Scotland, Afghanistan start with wins

Scotland and Ireland registered victories over Hong Kong and Ireland respectively on the first day of the Desert T20 Challenge tournament on Saturday (January 14), with both matches played at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

Hong Kong v Scotland
Rapid half-centuries from Calum MacLeod and Richie Berrington helped Scotland defeat Hong Kong by 24 runs in a high-scoring opening game of the tournament in the afternoon.

Opting to bat, Scotland posted 189 for 3 from 20 overs after MacLeod and Berrington scored 60 each, the latter remaining unbeaten, off 34 and 39 balls respectively. In reply, Hong Kong fought hard but managed only 165 for 6 before running out of overs.

Scotland got a great platform with Kyle Coetzer (31 in 20 balls) and George Munsey (22 in 26) putting together 61 for the opening wicket in seven overs. Both fell to Ehsan Khan, the off-spinner, in the eighth over, but MacLeod and Berrington ensured there wouldn't be a shift in momentum, adding 127 for the third wicket from 72 balls. MacLeod hit four fours and three sixes, while Berrington struck two fours and two sixes in his knock.

Hong Kong's chase was going nowhere at 50 for 4 in the ninth over but a late revival gave it hope. Shahid Wasif (40 in 25) and Ehsan (42 not out in 22) kept the chase alive but they had too much to do.

Brief scores: Scotland 189/3 in 20 overs (Kyle Coetzer 31, Calum MacLeod 60, Richie Berrington 60 n.o.; Ehsan Khan 2-26) beat Hong Kong 165/6 in 20 overs (Abshuman Rath 29, Shahid Wasif 40, Ehsan Khan 42 n.o.) by 24 runs.

Afghanistan v Ireland
In the second game of the day at the same venue, Afghanistan's spinners and Mohammad Nabi's unbeaten 26 helped their side beat Ireland in a close encounter.

Ireland was restricted to 125 for 6 with Amir Hamza, Nabi and Rashid Khan – Afghanistan's spin trio – picking up two wickets each. Afghanistan had some nervous moments in its chase but crossed the line in 18.4 overs for a five-wicket win.

Ireland opted to bat but was stifled by Afghanistan's three-spin attack. As many as six Ireland batsmen got double-digit scores but none of them converted the starts, with 25 – by Paul Stirling – the best score.

Stirling and Stuart Poynter gave Ireland a steady start with a 36-run opening stand in 32 balls but Ireland couldn't switch gears after that. The experienced William Porterfield, Kevin O'Brien and Gary Wilson got starts too, but Hamza, Nabi and Rashid kept striking to restrict Ireland.

Afghanistan's chase stared on a sturdy note with Mohammad Shahzad (29 in 27) and Najeeb Tarakai (31 in 27) adding 54 for the opening wicket before Jacob Mulder, the leg-spinner, struck twice in two overs dismissing Shahzad and Asghar Stanikzai.

Ireland threatened a comeback by striking every alternate over to leave Afghanistan at 99 for 5 in the 16th over, but Nabi's presence helped calm Afghanistan.

The required run-rate was under check and the experienced allrounder guided Afghanistan through the nervous moments with an unbeaten 26 that had two sixes and a four.

Brief scores: Ireland 125/6 in 20 overs (Paul Stirling 25; Amir Hamza 2-21, Mohammad Nabi 2-27, Rashid Khan 2-22) lost to Afghanistan 128/5 in 18.4 overs (Mohammad Shahzad 29, Najeeb Tarakai 31; Jacob Mulder 2-23) by 5 wickets.