imageIt has been a fairytale ride for Afghanistan cricket team, after the country achieved a historic victory in Desert T20 2017 Challenge, beating Ireland by 10 wickets in the final to win the tournament.

Afghanistan wicketkeeper batsman Mohammad Shahzad went on to etch his name in cricket history, after he became the first batsman to score two fifties on the same day in different international matches.

Shahzad played a blistering knock of 52 runs off 42 deliveries while chasing a mere 72, after hitting a lightening 80 runs against Oman at Desert T20 2017 Challenge in the semis, both his scores came on January 20.

The wicket keeper-batsman, who had entered the top 10 ICC T20I rankings in batting in April 2016 and has successfully maintained his 9th spot in the list, was Afghanistans go-to man during the finals stages of the tournament.

Ireland, which beat Scotland by 98 runs in the semi final, were the favorites to win the tournament, but a clinical bowling display by Afghanistan in the finals restricted the giant slayers to just 72 runs. All rounder Muhammad Nabi grabbed four scalps in the process.

The opening pair of Shahzad and Mangal, after Shahzads rapid 52, helped Afghanistan clinch the victory in just 8 overs.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2017

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