Hindukush Strikers defeated Maiwand Champions by five wickets on the fourth and final day of the sixth match of the e& Presents Ahmad Shah Abdali First-Class Tournament, Powered by SuperCola, played at the Rahmat Wali Masroor Cricket Ground in Khost province.
The match began last Thursday. Hindukush Strikers won the toss and
elected to bowl first against Maiwand Champions. Maiwand Champions struggled in
their first innings and were bowled out for 109 runs. Captain Afsar Zazai
top-scored with 33 runs, while Allah Noor Naseri contributed 25.
For Hindukush Strikers, Amanullah Kunarri claimed four wickets,
Zia-ur-Rahman Sharifi took two, while Nooristani Omarzai, Muslim Musa and Khair
Mohammad picked up one wicket each.
In reply, Hindukush Strikers were also unable to post a big total and
were bowled out for 169 runs, taking a 60-run first-innings lead. Kamal Khan
scored 46 and Mubeen Bakhtiar added 37 runs.
For Maiwand Champions, Nijat Masood took four wickets, while Bilal Sami
and Abdullah Tarakhil claimed three wickets each.
Maiwand Champions produced a much stronger batting performance in their
second innings, scoring 404 runs for the loss of nine wickets. Javed Ahmadzai
led the way with an outstanding 142, while Khalid Ahmadzai scored 72,
Rahmanullah Zadran 68 and Ijaz Ahmadzai 51. Their effort set Hindukush Strikers
a target of 345 runs.
For Hindukush Strikers, Nasrat Nooristani took four wickets, Amanullah
claimed two, while Muslim Musa, Khair Mohammad and Sami Shinwari picked up one
wicket each.
Hindukush Strikers successfully chased down the target, powered by
centuries from openers Abdul Malik and Mubeen Bakhtiar, who both scored 101
runs. In the middle order, Sami Shinwari remained unbeaten on 54, while Muslim
Musa finished not out on 37, helping Hindukush Strikers complete a five-wicket
victory.
Mubeen Bakhtiar, the Hindukush Strikers opener, was named Player of the
Match after scoring 37 runs in the first innings and 101 in the second.