World Cup beckons – Hong Kong beat Afghanistan to qualify for ICC Twenty20 cricket finals
Babar Hayat scores 15 in final over as Tanwir Afzal's men successfully chase 162 in Dublin, Ireland
Babar Hayat scored 15 runs off four balls as Hong Kong won a last-ball thriller against Afghanistan on Tuesday to qualify for the 2016 ICC Twenty20 World Cup finals.
In a daring and brave chase of 162 and needing 16 off the last over with three wickets down, Hayat kept his cool as two wickets fell in the over, hitting two runs off the final delivery to give Hong Kong victory by five wickets in Dublin, Ireland.
Hong Kong just beat Afghanistan and qualify for the next t20 World Cup. Congrats Charlie Burke and all the players. FANTASTIC
Hong Kong-born Dermot Reeve, the city’s most famous cricketing product who played for England at test level and in the 1996 50-over World Cup, congratulated coach Charlie Burke and the players on Facebook minutes after their victory.
“Hong Kong just beat Afghanistan and qualify for the next t20 World Cup. Congrats Charlie Burke and all the players. FANTASTIC,” wrote Reeve.
Skipper Tanwir Afzal, who was run out on the penultimate ball delivered by spinner Mohammad Nabi, said the players were focused on beating the highly rated Afghans after their win on Sunday over Namibia gave them a chance at qualifying for the T20 finals in India.
“We played well from the first over till the end. We always believed we could chase down 162. We gave everything in this game,” said Afzal.