Cutting’s all-round show goes in vain

Sharjah: Ben Cutting’s fine all-round show ended in vain as Paktia Panthers logged their first points with a 21-run win against the Nangarhar Leopards on the third day of the Afghanistan Premier League (APL) in the early group match at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

With his side reeling at 51 for five before the midway stage of their chase, Cutting let loose — perhaps belatedly — for a lusty 71 from 39 deliveries, including six sixes and five boundaries only to depart in the penultimate ball of the innings. He unfortunately hit his own wicket while going for big hit.

For the Paktia Panthers, it was a fine team effort after their opening night’s three-wicket loss against Kabul Zwanan. Captain Mohammad Shahzad was the pick with a quickfire 53 off 31 deliveries and Samiullah Shenwari struck an unbeaten 38 off 25 balls after electing to bat first.

Facing a steep asking rate of more than nine runs an over, the Leopards were in a bit of an early bother losing Johnson Charles and Anton Devcich cheaply with the score 17 for two. Rahmat Shah didn’t last long too after being bowled around his legs by Sharafuddin Ashraf to leave the Leopards clambering at 30 for 3.

The next few overs did even more damage as the Leopards began struggling for runs and lost two more wickets to reach 51 for five at the halfway mark. Cutting then took over along with Hashmatullah Shahidi with some lusty hitting to cross the century mark partnership. At 126 for 5, the Leopards stared at a huge task needing 59 runs in the last three overs.

Hashmatullah and Cutting managed to cut down the run-rate to 17 each off the final two overs. The Australian was dropped by Delporte while on 64, and his only celebration was sticking around till the final over still needing an impossible 29 runs off the final six deliveries.

Earlier, the Paktia Panthers’ innings was built around captain Shahzad’s 53 and a couple of quick contributions of 35 and 38 from Cameron Delporte and Shenwari.

The Panthers chose young Naveen Ul Haq for some special attention with his three overs fetching them 48 runs. Naveen conceded 14 in his first over, and 17 apiece in his second and third overs. Shahzad was particularly severe on the youngster from Kabul, who celebrated his 19th birthday only last month, with two boundaries and a six. Shenwari followed with two back-to-back sixes for a rather costly spell.

Cutting — the five-wicket star in the Leopards’ six-wicket win against the Kandahar Knights on Saturday — covered up well for his young charge with a last over hat-trick.

Group matches will resume with two encounters on Tuesday following Monday’s rest day.