As Bhutan asked Afghanistan to bat first, Afghanistan put up a mammoth 225/6 in allotted 20 overs and bowled out Bhutan for 45 runs in 17.4 overs.[break]
Afghanistan Openers Karim Sadiq and Nawroz Mangal produced a 114-run stand for the first wicket. Sadiq struck 12 boundaries and two sixes to score 72 runs off 42 balls while Mangal scored 37 runs off 17 balls hitting two boundaries and three sixes.
Mohammad Nabi contributed 36 runs off 16 balls as he hit three boundaries and equal number of sixes. Asghar Stanikzai, who added 29 runs off 20 balls was retired hurt during the proceeding.
Phuntsho Wangdi took three wickets while Suprit Pradhan claimed two wickets for Bhutan.
In chasing the big total, Bhutan batsmen could not resist the Afghan attack. Tashi Tshering (16 off 38 balls) was the highest contributor for Bhutan. None of the other batsmen reached the double-digit score.
Man-of-the-match Karim Sadiq, Samiullah Shenwari and Zamir Khan took two wickets each while Gulbodin Naib and Mohammad Nabi claimed a wicket each.
After the win, Afghanistan has six points from three matches and is on the top of the points table of group ´B´. Bhutan is on the bottom of the table without any points.
The Maldives and Malaysia are on the third and the fourth position respectively with two points each in their accounts.
Oman defeated Malaysia by three wickets on Tuesday to remain on the second position of the points table with four points in their account. All the teams have one more match to play in the group stage.
Malaysia elected to bat first at the Engineering Ground and put up 149/9 in 20 overs. Hammad Ullah Khan scored 47 runs off 43 balls as he struck five boundaries and a six. Suhan Kumar (35 runs off 17 balls) and Hassan Ghulam (27 runs off 19 balls) were the major contributors for Malaysia.
Man-of-the-match Aamir Khaleem took three wickets for Oman.
In the run chase, Oman met the target in the last ball losing seven wickets. Ghazanfar Iqbal scored 33 runs off 28 balls while Sultan Ahmed added 26 runs off 25 balls. Rajeshkumar Ranpura added unbeaten 22 runs off 17 balls while Malaysia gave away 20 runs as extra.
Shahrulnizam Yusof took two wickets for Malaysia.
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