Kabul International Cricket Stadium, August 24, 2024 — In a fitting finale to the 2024 Shpageeza Cricket League, Amo Sharks triumphed over Band-e-Amir Dragons by 7 wickets, chasing down a challenging target of 179 with 7 balls to spare. This victory crowned Amo Sharks as the champions of the tournament, showcasing their prowess under pressure.
Opting to bat first, Band-e-Amir Dragons posted a formidable 178/1 in their 20 overs. The innings was anchored by an unbeaten partnership between Sediqullah Atal, who scored 75* off 57 balls, and skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi, who made 78* off 53 balls. Despite losing Karim Janat early, the Dragons’ batsmen kept the scoreboard ticking, with Shahidi and Atal adding 153 runs for the second wicket.
In response, Amo Sharks got off to a blazing start, scoring 68 runs in the powerplay despite losing three wickets. Zubaid Akbari’s quickfire 40 off 14 balls set the tone, while Shahidullah (59* off 38) and Mohammad Ishaq (47* off 43) steered the chase home with a composed partnership, ensuring the Sharks reached 179/3 in 18.5 overs.
Key Records:
- Zubaid Akbari became the top scorer for Amo Sharks in T20s with 336 runs, surpassing Darwish Rasooli’s 298.
Brief Scores:
Band-e-Amir Dragons: 178/1 in 20 overs (Hashmatullah Shahidi 78*, Sediqullah Atal 75*; Abdul Malik 0/22)
Amo Sharks: 179/3 in 18.5 overs (Shahidullah 59*, Zubaid Akbari 40; AM Ghazanfar 1/28)
Result: Amo Sharks won by 7 wickets (with 7 balls remaining).
Series Result: Amo Sharks won the 2024 Shpageeza Cricket League.
