Afghanistan booked its place in the 2012 World Twenty20 with a 47-run victory over Namibia in the first final of the 16-nation qualifying tournament.
In a battle of two undefeated teams, Afghanistan was bowled out for 146 in their 20 overs before Namibia was dismissed for 99 in the 19th over.
Despite the loss, Namibia will get a second chance of making the World Twenty20 when it faces either Ireland or the Netherlands in Saturday's second qualifying final.
The result also made it eight wins out of eight for Afghanistan in the tournament and captain Nawroz Mangal said a statistic like that made a compelling case for his side to be given more opportunities to play against the established teams.
"It is a big day for us and the entire nation to compete at a bigger level," Mangal told reporters through an interpreter.
"Afghanistan is no longer at a stage to compete against associate and affiliate members. In every single tournament we have participated in, in the ACC (Asian Cricket Council) and in global associate and affiliate tournaments, we have beaten every single team.
"So we want to compete on a bigger level and the stage is there. The boys are up to that and we will do our best."
Afghanistan, which also played in the 2010 World Twenty20 in the Caribbean, saw openers Karim Sadiq (28) and Javed Ahmadi (24) give its side a flying start with a partnership of 57 by the seventh over.
But Namibia slammed the brakes on the scoring rate with skipper Sarel Burger taking with 3 for 16.
However, the African side never recovered from a precarious 4 for 18 by the fourth over with seamer Dawlat Zadran boasting figures of 3 for 1 off his first two overs.
Burger and Nicholaas Scholtz, with 22 runs each, gave a little middle-order impetus, but Afghanistan was simply too powerful in all departments and coasted to a place in the finals in Sri Lanka in September and October.
Right-arm fast bowler Aftab Alam claimed 4 for 25, sweeping up the tail in the process.
Afghanistan and the winner of final play-off will meet in the tournament finale on Saturday night.
The winner will be slotted into Group B in Sri Lanka alongside Australia and the West Indies with the runner-up going into Group A against India and defending champions England.
AFP/Reuters
Tags: cricket, sport, twenty20, afghanistan First posted March 23, 2012 09:13:32
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