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Afghanistan beat Scotland at a roasting hot Sharjah cricket ground to open up the race for two spots at the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup as part of the ICC World Cricket League Championship
Afghanistan beat Scotland at a roasting hot Sharjah cricket ground to open up the race for two spots at the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup as part of the ICC World Cricket League Championship.
The temperatures were hovering around a sweltering 35 degrees throughout the day, a factor that Ireland will have to face in the coming weeks when they play the UAE at the same venue.

Scotland won the toss and chose to bat first at the Sharjah cricket stadium which has hosted over 200 One Day Internationals since 1984, more than any other cricket ground in the world. The Scots will have been happy with their start reaching 26 without loss in the sixth over. They then wobbled, losing Kyle Coetzer for a rapid 23 and fellow opener MacLeod fell soon after, and it took a 99-run partnership from new boy Matthew Macken and Richie Berrington to get Scotland back on track.

From the platform of 133 for 2, Scotland will have been disappointed not to post a big total but they were forced to settle for 199 for 8 from their 50 overs, medium-pacer Gulbodin Naib the pick of the Afghan bowlers with a haul 4 for 31.

Afghanistan’s chase started eventfully with Mohammad Shahzad smashing four boundaries in 11 balls before falling for 19. Scotland were right in the game as they picked up two more wickets to leave Afghanistan 59 for 3 but a wonderful unbroken partnership of 144 between Nowraz Mangal and Samiullah Shenwari saw the batting side home comfortably with over 16 overs to spare as they ran out convincing seven-wicket winners.

Mangal’s Man of the Match innings was all the more impressive given his mid-innings acceleration which saw him move from 66 to 103 in just 10 balls including a violent 25 struck off one Preston Mommsen over. Shenwari was equally impressive with a beautifully composed 55 playing the perfect foil to Mangal.

The two teams meet again on Friday at the same venue with two crucial points up for grabs. Afghanistan will be hoping to post another win and move to joint second with Scotland in the Qualifying table.

Teams Played Points
Ireland 8 13
Scotland 9 11
Netherlands 8 10
UAE 8 10
Afghanistan 9 9
Kenya 8 6
Namibia 8 4
Canada 8 3

The forthcoming WCL Championship matches are as follows:

Afghanistan v Scotland
6 Mar – WCL Championship, ODI, Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah – Afghanistan won by 7 Wickets
8 Mar – WCL Championship, ODI, Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah

UAE v Ireland
18 Mar – WCL Championship, 50-over, Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah *Streamed Live*
20 Mar – WCL Championship, 50-over, Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah *Streamed Live*

Kenya v Canada
11 Mar – ICC WCL Championship, ODI, ICC Global Cricket Academy Oval No.1, Dubai
13 Mar – ICC WCL Championship, ODI, ICC Global Cricket Academy Oval No.1, Dubai

Namibia v Netherlands
16 Apr – WCL Championship, 50-over, Wanderers, Windhoek
18 Apr – WCL Championship, 50-over, Wanderers, Windhoek


Cricket Ireland
Richie Berrington top scored for Scotland © ICC/Zainab Malubhai
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