Sports

Afghanistan record first win in ICC U-19 World Cup

A brilliant half-century from Tariq Stanikzai helped Afghanistan Under-19 team to post their first win of the tournament with a four-wicket win in a low-scoring encounter against Canada Under-19 team held on Monday at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.Stanikzai scored 56 off 48 balls, with nine fours and a six, as Afghanistan chased down a paltry target of 148 in only 24.1 overs losing six wickets. They lost a few wickets while doing so, though, with left-arm spinner Shlok Patel and off-spinner Miraj Patel sharing five wickets between them.Opting to bat first after winning the important toss, Canada lost three of their top four for ducks and slipped to 31 for 4 before their captain Abraash Khan (33) and Arslan Khan (38) put on the only substantial partnership of their innings, 62 for the fifth wicket. Wickets fell steadily thereafter, with No. 9 Kurt Ramdath`s 20 the next-highest score of the innings, as Canada were bowled out for 147 off the last ball of their allotted 50 overs.Medium-pacer Muslim Musa and off-spinner Shamsur Rahman grabbed three wickets apiece for Afghanistan.