CWCQ Super Sixes: Storylines so far

ONE DOWN, TWO TO GOThe Afghans have left themselves with it all to do in the Super Sixes after scraping through by the skin of their teeth but they made the perfect start, upsetting the previously unbeaten Windies by three wickets in Harare to keep alive their hopes of qualifying for the main event next summer.

They still need to win their next two matches against UAE and Ireland, and even then that might not be enough, but there are signs that Rashid Khan’s side are rediscovering their best form as we reach the business end of the tournament.

WAKE-UP CALL FOR THE WINDIESBar the odd minor hiccup, Jason Holder’s side had strolled through the group stage, racking up four wins from four and plenty of runs to boot.

But if they thought they were going to have things all their own way in this tournament, Afghanistan gave them a rude awakening and revealed their vulnerabilities, not least against spin, which accounted for seven of the eight wickets to fall (the other being a run out).

It was also an uneven showing by the Windies in the field. Run-out chances were squandered and catches grassed as Holder's men endured an off-day. After such an impressive run to the second stage, their erratic work in the field will be a cause for concern.

The hosts Zimbabwe are up next for the Windies on Sunday. Lose that and the pressure will be ramped up ahead of their final Super Sixes match against Scotland.

SMELLS LIKE TEEN SPIRITSeven months ago Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Afghanistan’s 16-year-old mystery spinner, was yet to play a professional cricket match.

Now the teenager is the name on everyone’s lips. Having starred in the recent Under 19 Cricket World Cup, he bagged an IPL contract with Kings XI Punjab and is now tearing it up at senior level, with 12 wickets so far in the competition, including three in the victory over West Indies.

Mujeeb bowls offies, he bowls leggies and he has a ripping googly, as Chris Gayle found to his cost.

NEPAL GAIN ODI STATUS
After the thrill of their dramatic qualification for this tournament at World Cricket League Division Two, Nepal would have been disappointed with three lacklustre defeats to open their campaign in Zimbabwe.

However, two victories on the bounce have put a spring back in their step, with the second of those wins, a seven-wicket romp against Papua New Guinea, elevating them to ODI status for the first time in their history.

But where there are winners, there must also be losers. After five consecutive defeats, PNG head into the ninth-place play-off against Hong Kong on Saturday knowing that whatever the result they will lose their ODI status.

SOLE MOVERSScotland are sitting pretty in top spot after the first day of the Super Sixes following a convincing win over the UAE at Bulawayo Sports Club.

The win means Scotland have acquired five points from three games, putting themselves in prime position to advance to the final next Sunday.

In a strong team performance in which the top five all passed 30 with the bat, a classy century from Matt Cross held the innings together; while with the ball, Chris Sole, playing his first match of the tournament, claimed four good wickets with his bustling medium-fast seamers.

It’s a pivotal week in Scotland's story. A rejuvenated team, riding on the back of excellent recent results and gearing up for fixtures against England and Pakistan in June, is now on the cusp of glory.

As Sole says in this piece, it's exciting times for Scottish cricket. How they would love next year to take the short trip south over the border to compete with the best.