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.