Afghanistan crowned ICC WCL Division 4 champions after beating Hong Kong by 57 runs

	Tabarak Dar is bowled by Hameed Hasan. © ICC Cricket-Europe

Afghanistan clinched the ICC WCL Division 4 title after beating Hong Kong by 57 runs at the Anadil Burhani ground today.

There was one change to the Hong Kong squad with 16 year-old Nizakat Khan coming in for Roy Lamsam.

Hong Kong found themselves in the unaccustomed role of bowling first in the match after Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bat. Hong Kong grabbed an early wicket when Karim Khan was caught behind from the bowling of Irfan Ahmed with the total on 6 in the fifth over. Ahmad Shah (14) and Asghar Stanikzai (11) also fell quite cheaply to leave Afghanistan 3-31 in the 15th over. That brought together Nowroz Mangal and Mohammad Nabi, the two batsmen that tormented Hong Kong in their previous meeting, but this time their partnership only managed to produce 28 runs before Nabi was caught by Tabarak Dar from the bowling of Najeeb Amar for 14. Mangal continued on though, eventually hitting 40 runs in a 75-ball innings that included four boundaries. Top score however went to Raees Ahmadzi who hit 49 runs in 69 balls, including 2 fours and 3 sixes. Samiullah Shenwari also contributed 23 runs in 35 balls as Afghanistan was eventually dismissed for 179 from 49.4 overs. On the bowling front, Nizakat Khan grabbed the best figures with 4-29 from 7.4 overs, while Irfan Ahmed, Najeeb Amar and Nadeem Ahmed grabbed two wickets each.

Hong Kong, who had toyed with a number of opening combinations during the tournament, thrust Nadeem Ahmed into the breach with Tabarak Dar. Nadeem hit one four and one six in a brief cameo but his dismissal set the tone for the innings, which failed to produce a partnership of substance for the first time in the tournament. Zain Abbas (4), Butt Hussain (17) and Skhawat Ali (8) couldn't repeat their past heroics against the tight Afghanistan attack. Tabarak Dar played a lone hand, scoring 33 from 106 balls; his partnership with Butt Hussain, worth 37 runs, was the best of the innings. Hasti Gul (2-23 from ten overs) did the early damage while bowler of the tournament Hameed Hasan grabbed 2-28 from seven overs. But it was Mohammad Nabi who again had Hong Kong in a spin. In a brilliant nine over spell Nabi first stifled the run-scoring in the middle-order and then ripped through the batsmen's defenses as they tried to hit their way out of trouble. Nabi finished with the impressive figures of 4-9 in this match and with an accumulated analysis of 9-41 from the two matches against Hong Kong.

Afghanistan's Raees Ahmadzi won the Man of the Match award and Mohammad Nabi was later named Player of the Tournament.

Scorecard: ICC WCL Division 4 Final - Hong Kong v. Afghanistan

	Afghanistan's Mohammad Nabi receives the Player of the Tournament award from Tournament Director Andrew Faichney. © ICC Cricket-Europe

Afghanistan were worthy winners of the tournament, having won all six of their matches. While their batsmen struggled at times, their bowling attack was clearly the best in the tournament. Hameed Hasan (16) and Mohammad Nabi (14) were the two top wicket-takers of the tournament while Hong Kong's Nadeem Ahmed was third best with 13 wickets.

Hong Kong finished with a four win two loss record and despite losing the final, they should be proud of their achievements. They finished with the best run-rate of all the teams in the tournament and were only bettered by the eventual champions. Butt Hussain was the highest run-scorer of the tournament with 267 runs at an average of 44.50 runs per innings while Zain Abbas was fourth best with 195 runs at an average of 39.00.

By reaching the final, both Hong Kong and Afghanistan have been promoted to the ICC World Cricket League Division Three and they will play in a tournament for that title in Buenos Aires in January 2009. The six-team tournament will also feature teams from Papua New Guinea, Cayman Islands, Uganda and hosts Argentina.

Italy finished the tournament in third place, having beaten Tanzania by 70 runs in the 3rd/4th play-off. Italy and Tanzania remain in the ICC World Cricket League Division Four.

Fiji continued their revival with a spirited 27-run victory over Jersey in the 5th/6th place play-off match. Both teams are demoted to ICC Cricket League Division Five.

Schedules for the next Division Four and Five tournaments have not been confirmed yet.

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