Nawroz Mangal © Getty Images
Nawroz Mangal scored his second ODI ton © Getty Images (File Photo)

Nov 30, 2014

Nawroz Mangal scored a tremendous 129 off 123 balls to help Afghanistan to a commanding score of 280 for eight against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the second One-Day International (ODI) at Dubai on Sunday. Afsar Zazai scored 51, but not other Afghan batsman crossed 25.

Opening the innings, Mangal Usman Ghani added only 11 runs for the opening wicket before the latter was caught by Swapnil Patil off Manjula Guruge for seven. Zazai walked out at No. 3 and with Mangal added 103 for the second wicket. However it proved to be the last noteworthy stand, though Mangal’s partnership with Samiullah Shenwari for the fifth wicket yielded 51 runs.

Skipper Mohammad Nabi and the Asghar Sthanikzai could manage only 16 runs between them, while Shenwari (25), Gulbadin Naib (20), and Mirwais Ashraf (20) added crucial runs with Mangal. However, none of them were able to score big runs as the UAE bowlers kept picking up wickets at regular intervals.

For UAE, Krishnachandran Karate was the pick of the bowlers with three for 45. Manjula Guruge took a couple of wickets as well, but went for 81 runs in his 10 overs. Khurram Khan and Mohammad Shahzad took a wicket apiece as well.

Brief scores:

Afghanistan 280 for 8 in 50 overs (Nawroz Mangal 129, Afsar Zazai 51; Krushnachandran Karate 3 for 45) vs UAE.