ICC World Cup Qualifier, Krugersdorp:
Afghanistan 218-7 (50 overs) beat Ireland 196 (47.3 overs) by 22 runs
 Andrew White hit 56 in Ireland's defeat by Afghanistan |
Afghanistan pulled off a surprise 22-run win over Ireland at the start of the Super Eight phase of the World Cup Qualifier in South Africa. Ireland, previously the only team with a 100% record, were bowled out for 186 chasing Afghanistan's total of 218-7. Rais Ahmadzai scored an unbeaten 50 while Andrew White was the pick of Ireland's bowlers with 2-27. White (56) and Kevin O'Brien (52) were Ireland's top scorers, while paceman Hamid Hassan took 5-23 for Afghanistan. After Ireland lost early wickets, White and O'Brien came together with their side in trouble on 73-5 and shared a sixth-wicket partnership of 113.  | 606: DEBATE |
But then a dramatic collapse saw the last five Irish wickets fall for just 10 runs as 21-year-old Hassan, who became the first Afghan cricketer to play at Lord's when he represented MCC in 2007, ran through the lower order. Earlier, Asghar Stanikzai (47) and Mohammad Shehzad (46) had supported Ahmadzai well in the Afghan innings. It was a welcome victory for Afghanistan, whose only two previous victories in the Qualifier had come against Bermuda and Denmark, who were eliminated after the first phase. Points earned in the first phase against other teams who qualify for the Super Eights are carried through to the Super Eights. Canada now lead the Super Eights table on net run-rate ahead of Ireland.
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