ICC WCQ: Resilient Afghanistan aces jittery chase

Defeats UAE by five wickets in Harare.

Nagpur : 10/03/2016: Afganistan's Najibullah Zadran and Gulbadin Naib celebrate after winning the ICC T20 World Cup match between Hong Kong and Afganistan at Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Jamtha, Nagpur on March 10, 2016. Photo: K.R. Deepak Nagpur : 10/03/2016: Afganistan's Najibullah Zadran and Gulbadin Naib celebrate after winning the ICC T20 World Cup match between Hong Kong and Afganistan at Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Jamtha, Nagpur on March 10, 2016. Photo: K.R. Deepak -

Gulbadin Naib scored an unbeaten 74 to help Afghanistan chase 178 with ease and notch up its second win in the Super Sixes - a five-wicket win over UAE. Despite the win, it lies fifth among six teams in the points table.

Scorecard

UAE, batting first, suffered a top-order collapse and never recovered sufficiently. Middle-order batsman Shaiman Anwar provided some resistance with a knock of 64, after UAE was reduced to 59 for 4. Mohammad Naveed, another veteran in the team, scored 45 lower down the order. Leg-spinner Rashid Khan was the wrecker-in-chief, claiming five wickets.

In reply, Afghanistan also stuttered initially. With the team struggling at 54 for 5, Naib and Najibullah Zadran took responsibility and took the team safely home.