Hong Kong, 1 November: Afghanistan won the Hong Kong Sixes for the first time on Sunday, beating Australia by four wickets in the Cup final. Earlier in the day India ended their campaign with a last-ball, five-wicket win over Bangladesh in the Bowl playoff.
India chase 117 off the final ball
Bangladesh scored 24 in the first over after being put in. India captain Krunal Pandya then took three wickets in his two overs, removing Sabbir Rahman, Mrittunjoy Chowdhury and Md Rizwan. Bangladesh captain Abu Hider hit an unbeaten 62 off 18 balls with three fours and eight sixes, and his side finished on 116 in six overs.
Shashank Singh and Rahul Tripathi put on 69 for India’s first wicket. Tripathi made 32 off 12 balls and Shashank 50 off 15, with seven sixes and a four. India needed 23 from the last over, and Rahul Tewatia and Nitish Rana got them there off the final delivery.
India had dropped into the Bowl division after defeats to Pakistan and UAE, and lost the Bowl semi-final to England by three runs, as reported on day two.
Imran Mir leads Afghanistan’s chase
Australia won the toss in the Cup final and made 115 in six overs. Max Bryant hit 44 off 14 balls, Nick Hobson 23 off eight and Alex Ross an unbeaten 29 off 10. Nangeyalia Khan and Karim Janat took a wicket each.
Afghanistan lost Janat for 13 off five balls and captain Gulbadin Naib for 17 off six. Imran Mir and Farmanullah Safi then finished the job with an unbroken stand. Imran made 53 not out off 14 balls with seven sixes, and Farmanullah 26 not out off seven with four sixes. Afghanistan reached 119/2 in 5.1 overs.
Other finals and playoffs
South Africa won the Bowl final against England. Ed Barnard top-scored for England with 35 off 11 balls and Abdullah Bayoumy took three wickets in an over as England made 95. Blake Simpson reached fifty off 12 balls with nine sixes and added 73 for the second wicket with Jorich van Schalkwyk, who made 36 off 14. South Africa won with five wickets in hand in 5.1 overs.
Pakistan beat Oman by 18 runs in the Plate final. Captain Abbas Afridi hit 73 off 16 balls with 11 sixes and a four, and Pakistan made 154, with 22 sixes in the innings. Oman openers Zohaib Amanat (61 not out off 18) and Usman Afridi (67 not out off 17) batted through the chase but finished on 136.
Scotland finished third after beating UAE by 46 runs. Michael Leask hit 53 off 11 balls and Jack Jarvis 38 not out off 13 as Scotland made 135/1, and UAE replied with 90/3. Hosts Hong Kong, China beat Sri Lanka by one run in the Plate playoff, with Anshuman Rath scoring 51 off 17 balls.
In a women’s exhibition match, Hong Kong, China Women beat China Women Stars by 25 runs. Natasha Miles made an unbeaten 34.
