KABUL: Band-e-Amir Dragons clinched the Shpageeza Cricket League here on Friday by edging past Mis Ainak Knights in a thrilling final over. With the match changing hands practically every over, Tendai Chatara, the Zimbabwean fast bowler, came back in for the final over and snatched it for the the Dragons.

Starting with a couple of tight deliveries, he conceded only singles, bringing the equation from 12 down to 10 off the last four balls. His countryman, Sikandar Raza, was run-out off the third ball. Despite some further see-sawing with a no ball as well off the penultimate delivery, he managed to hold onto his nerve and seal the deal for his side.

The spin twins, Rashid Khan (4-0-22-1) and Shahidullah (3-0-17-0) put a firm grip on the scoring in the middle overs, pulling things back after a quick start. Mohammad Nabi then came along, ganged up with Raza and rescued his side from 92 for 5 to stitch together a 28-ball 46-run stand for the sixth wicket.

Earlier in the day, the Dragons slipped from a position of strength of 72 for no loss to 129 for 6. The wrecker-in-chief was another tweaker, Zakir Khan, spinning a web around the middle order to pick up a three-fer. A wagging tail saw them scrapping to something respectable.

Published in Dawn, September 23rd, 2017