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The Kabul International Cricket Stadium hosted two Shpageeza Cricket League 2024 matches on Sunday, August 18. Amo Sharks defeated Boost Defenders in the first match of the day, while Band-e-Amir Dragons blanked Speen Ghar Tigers in the second match of the double-header.
Regardless of the two outcomes, Mis Ainak Knights continue their stronghold at the top of the Shpageeza Cricket League 2024 points table with four wins from four matches. Band-E-Amir Dragons jumped to number two after defeating Speen Ghar Tigers to register their third win of the season.
Amo Sharks also gained two rungs with a win over Boost Defenders as they have accumulated four points so far from five matches. Boost Defenders, with two wins in five attempts, take the fourth slot on the eight-team ladder courtesy of an inferior NRR of -0.479.
Speen Ghar Tigers occupy fifth position on the table with a solitary win to their name in five games, and with a dismal NRR of -0.321. Hindukush Stars, Kabul Eagles and Pamir Zalmi are yet to play their opening games of the season.
Rashid Khan’s return, Ashraf’s all-round brilliance take Shpageeza by storm
Batting first, Amo Sharks charted 146/8 from 20 overs, courtesy of a swift 20-ball 36* from Sharafuddin Ashraf. Openers Abdul Malik and Masood Gurbaz also carved valuable runs at the top of the order before a semi-collapse reduced the Sharks from 34/0 to 118/8. For Boost Defenders, Rahmat Shah plucked three wickets in the middle overs to claim figures of 3/28, while new-ball striker Naseer Khan Maroofkhil conceded just nine runs from his four overs with the added bonus of two key wickets.
Chasing 147, Boost Defenders managed to make just 135/9 despite featuring fighting knocks from Rahmat Shah (49 off 45) and Darwish Rasooli (35 off 29). Najibullah Zadran at number six clobbered 23 runs from just nine balls before Azmatullah Omarzai (4/37) tilted the tide back in Amo Sharks favor with four quick wickets. Mohammadullah and Sharafuddin Ashraf collectively claimed four wickets between them as Sharks cantered to a 11-run win.
Later in the day, Band-e-Amir Dragons were bowled out for 147 in 19.5 overs by Speen Ghar Tigers bowlers Zahir Khan (4/18) and Rashid Khan (3/9). Opening batter Sediqullah Atal himself contributed 89 of those runs from just 62 balls to top-score in the innings.
In response, Band-e-Amir Dragons bowlers collectively restricted Speen Ghar Tigers within 13 runs off their target. Negating Hassan Eisakhil’s confident 45 at the top, Dragons’ Amir Hamza struck thrice in his spell and received much assistance from AM Ghazanfar (2/31) and Nangeyalia Kharote (2/14).
