Afghanistan’s first-ever cricket match in the home of cricket, Lord’s, was a festive mood for the fans. The stadium was occupied mostly by Afghanistan cricket fans who were expecting a memorable performance. However, Afghanistan’s first match at Lord’s was a damp squib as their game against the Marylebone Cricket Club, ended in a damp squib as rain played spoilsport and the match was declared a no-result.
In overcast conditions and with rain looming, the MCC side, boasting of some former star players in Misbah-ul-Haq, Brendon McCullum, Shivnarine Chanderpaul won the toss and chose to bat. However, they did not start in bright fashion.
{{/usCountry}}In overcast conditions and with rain looming, the MCC side, boasting of some former star players in Misbah-ul-Haq, Brendon McCullum, Shivnarine Chanderpaul won the toss and chose to bat. However, they did not start in bright fashion.
{{/usCountry}}McCullum (5) and Misbah (7) both departed to left-arm pacer Shapoor Zadran who exploited the uneven bounce well and troubled the batsmen with short deliveries. Sam Hain, a 21-year old cricketer born in Hong Kong but playing for Warwickshire, strung a solid partnership with Shivnarine Chanderpaul. However, during the course of the MCC innings, rain stopped play for 30 minutes and the match was reduced to 40 overs per side.
Following the resumption, Chanderpaul retired hurt on 22 and that brought in Samit Patel. Hain looked good for a century but he holed out to deep mid wicket with Gulbadin Naib taking the catch. Samit looked in good touch but he struggled for partners as Afghanistan chipped away in the death overs. Samit notched up his fifty and MCC ended on 217/6.
Chasing 218, Chris Rushworth, a right-arm fast bowler playing for Durban, nipped out Noor Ali Zadran for 11 but when Afghanistan reached 31/1 in five overs, the rain descended once again and no further play could be possible.