Hong Kong completed 162 runs target in the last ball losing five wickets in Qualifiers playoff at Malahide, Dublin in Ireland on Tuesday.Although, Jamie Atkinson (47 runs off 47 balls) and Mark Chapman (40 off 25) made important contribution for Hong Kong win, it was Babar Hayat (not out 20 off 9) who stole the show. He collected 15 runs facing four balls in the last over and two runs in the last ball to ensure Hong Kong's place in the World Cup.
Hong Kong needed 16 runs in the last over, but Chapman was caught by Nawroz Mangal off Mohammad Nabi in first ball of the last over. But Babar hit a boundary and a six in the next two balls and collected three runs in another after a wide ball from Nabi.
However, Tanwir Afzal was run out in the penultimate delivery by Nabi. But Babar managed to collect the winning two runs in the last ball.
Earlier, winning the toss and opting to bat first, Afghanistan scored 161/7 in allotted overs after player-of-the-match Nawroz Mangal scored 53 runs facing only 36 balls that included two sixes and six boundaries.
Skipper Asghar Stanikzai (29) and Mohammad Shazad (20) were other major contributors for Afghanistan.
Hong Kong will now face Scotland in the semifinal on July 25, while Afghanistan will play against Papua New Guinea, which is fourth in Group A, for places in next year's World Cup.
Ireland and Scotland have already secured places for the World T20 next year after finishing on top of group A and B, respectively. Namibia, Papua New Guinea, the Netherlands, Afghanistan and Oman are vying for the remaining three slots available for India. Nepal crashed out from the group stage after finishing at the bottom of group A standings.
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