Afghanistan A beat Qatar by 20 runs in the historic first game of the T20I series between the two teams at West End Park International Cricket Stadium in Doha. It​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ is the first-ever bilateral series of Qatar with a test-playing nation. Although the hosts were defeated, they showed some brilliance against a well-drilled Afghan side.

Afghanistan A Posts Competitive Total with Imran Mir Leading the Charge

In the first innings, Afghanistan A set a solid base with Imran Mir scoring a neat 50 off 40 balls. He was the only one to play with a calculated aggression and thus, anchor the innings. One can say that he was supported by Darwish Rasooli and Sediqullah Atal as well, since the former made a quick 28 and the latter 20 runs. The following five overs saw the batsmen of the Afghan team making more runs with less balls as they kept on rotating the strike. Going by their strategy, they did not make it easy for the bowlers to get wickets as the total for the Afghanistan A team at the end of the 20 overs was 155-5 with all the runs coming off the bat of the middle order.

Qatar’s bowling didn’t quite have the power to stop the top order for the first few overs of the Afghan side, nevertheless, they did gain some momentum in the middle overs. Muhammad Ikramullah was unquestionably the most successful bowler for Qatar as he managed to take 3 wickets while at the same time, he was instrumental in keeping the scoring rate low. His variations and control offered Qatar brief momentum, but Afghanistan’s depth ensured a competitive total.

Qatar’s Chase Falters Despite Zubair Ali’s Heroics

In reply, Qatar started chasing purposefully. Qatar got some runs on the board because of a very good inning by Zubair Ali. He made a lot of good shots and got 52 runs shooting almost at a run a ball. The good thing about his batting was that he didn’t have any doubt and also was able to find gaps very easily, especially in the power play.

But wickets fell at regular intervals, and Qatar’s middle order wasn’t able to make the most of the platform given by Zubair. As the game progressed, everyone from Afghanistan A tightened the lines. Especially, Abdullah Ahmadzai was on point as he got 3 crucial wickets and also broke the most important partnerships at the right time. Eventually, Qatar fell short, ending at 135 for 8 in 20 overs to give Afghanistan A a 20-run victory.

Fielding and tactical discipline are indeed the key elements setting Afghanistan apart.

A’s fielding was spot on right through the game. Their saving of boundaries and quick throws at the crease put pressure on Qatar’s batters for errors and run-outs. Captain Darwish Rasooli’s astute leadership in field placements and bowling changes did not allow Qatar to get momentum during the game.

Qatar, on their first outing against a full-member country, revealed some nervousness. Definitely, their bowling had its moments of brilliance; however, the fielding was not up to the mark and they even dropped some catches which turned out to be pretty expensive.

A Milestone for Qatari Cricket

Still, of great significance to Qatar is the fact that this match has been a landmark moment for them. Afghanistan A coming to play a bilateral series in Qatar is the first chapter in the history of the country’s cricketing journey to the world. The count of people who came to the West End Park Stadium was good, and the mood was that of total euphoria, which really shows how the sport is growing in the region. The Qatar Cricket Association has always been saying that games like these will work wonder for local talents as it will pave a way for them to get high-level cricket exposure. Some of the players that are Zubair Ali and Muhammad Ikramullah have proven that they are capable enough to face the challenges, and thus, with more experience, Qatar can be a quite tough associate team.

What’s Next in the Series

The series continues on November 9 and 11 with two more T20Is remaining. So, expect Afghanistan A to put an end to the series, with Qatar anxious to make a comeback at the next game. Since both the teams are full of upcoming stars, the following games will be not only challenging but also developmental in ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌nature.