Shpageeza Cricket League 2024 Points Table: Updated Standings after Amo Sharks vs Mis Ainak Knights, Match 2

The 2024 edition of the Shpageeza Cricket League kicked off on Monday, August 12, with two matches at the Kabul International Cricket Stadium. Band-e-Amir Dragons steamrolled defending champions Speen Ghar Tigers by 19 runs in the first match of the day, while Mis Ainak Knights pulled off a sensational last-ball heist against Amo Sharks.

The win for the Band-e-Amir Dragons in the first match of the competition helped them take the top spot on the eight-team points table. Their NRR now stands at a formidable 0.95. Mis Ainak Knights are positioned just behind the Dragons at number two having defeated Amo Sharks by eight wickets later in the day.

Amo Sharks and Speen Ghar Tigers respectively take the third and fourth spot on the points table after facing crushing defeats in their opening games. Boost Defenders, Hindukush Stars, Kabul Eagles, and Pamir Zalmi are yet to launch their share of tournament fixtures.

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Ibrahim Zadran, Allah Ghazanfar take opening day honors

Band-e-Amir Dragons batted first and forged 167/6 from 20 overs against Speen Ghar Tigers bowlers. Opening batter Sediqullah Atal cracked 10 boundaries and two sixes to top-score with 69 runs from 46 deliveries while fellow international star Karim Janat smacked a handy 25-ball 34 in the middle-overs. For the Speen Ghar Tigers, left-arm spinner Zahir Khan picked up three wickets at the expense of just 31 runs from three overs.

Chasing 168, the Speen Ghar Tigers managed just 148/9 from 20 overs to fall 19 runs short of their target. Band-e-Amir Dragons bowlers Amir Hamza (3/21) and AM Ghazanfar (3/11) claimed three wickets each in the innings while Nangeyalia Kharote also delivered timely breakthroughs through figures of 2/14.

In the second match of the double-header, Amo Sharks listed 151/7 courtesy of a run-a-ball 33 from opener Zubaid Akbari and an unbeaten 48 from Shahidullah. Wahidullah Zadran (2/27) and Zia-ur-Rehman (2/21) headlined Mis Ainak Knights’ bowling charge by claiming two wickets each in the first half of the match.

In response, Mis Ainak Knights overcame their 152-run target off the last ball of the match. Opener and Afghanistan international Ibrahim Zadran top-scored in the chase with an unbeaten 80, and shared a 97-run match-winning partnership with Afsar Zazai (42* off 37 balls).