Tanwir Afzal stars as Hong Kong defeat Uganda
Bowler snares three wickets and then takes his team home for second straight win
Tanwir Afzal turned in an all-round performance to spur Hong Kong to a second successive win in as many days at the ICC World Twenty20 cricket qualifiers in Abu Dhabi on Saturday. The right-arm fast-medium bowler grabbed three wickets and then smashed an unbeaten 26 to lead Hong Kong to a four-wicket win over Uganda.
Following the seven-wicket win over Italy, Hong Kong are now two from two in the preliminary round competition with another five group games to go.
"Our first target was to win our first three matches and then take it from there. We are well on the way to achieving that," said a pleased Hong Kong coach Charlie Burke. "I couldn't have asked for a better start."
Uganda, opting to bat first, were bowled out for 105 with Afzal, who opened the attack, finishing with figures of three for 12. He was well supported by Haseeb Amjad - the match-winner in the opener against Italy with five wickets - and left-arm spinners Munir Dar and Nadeem Ahmed.
Hong Kong got off to a flying start in the run chase with openers Irfan Ahmed and Waqas Barkat putting on 37 in the first five overs, but then collapsed from 49 for one to 69 for six in the 15th over, before Afzal walked in to settle nerves with a quick-fire knock including two sixes and two fours.
"I wasn't nervous. I was confident and backed myself. I just went out there and played my natural game. I have been in similar situations before and I knew I could take us home," said Afzal.