Batting first, Scotland rallied from 144-8 to score 210 from their 50 overs, a total that at first appeared competitive and then insurmountable as their opponents floundered at 97-7.

Led by a swashbuckling 96 from Samiullah Shenwari, the Asian side began their fightback, with Shenwari smashing three huge sixes over the leg side boundary before being caught out when attempting a fourth that would have brought up his century.

His team at that point remained 19 short, but edged nearer with nerves of steel before last man Shapoor Zadran hit the third ball of the final over for a match winning four to secure a famous first win.

It also continued the magnificent improvement enjoyed by Afghanistan over the last few years, with the team having still competed in the bottom tier of the International Cricket Council's (ICC) World League as recently as in 2008.

Afghanistan supporters cheer on their team en route to their first World Cup victory ©AFP/Getty Images



Scotland on the other hand, have now lost all 11 matches they have played in three World Cups, surpassing the record of 10 consecutive defeats previously held by The Netherlands.

Just like yesterday, when Ireland overcame United Arab Emirates it was a match involving so-called minnows which produced the best contest in the 14-team tournament, jointly co-hosted in Australia and New Zealand.

This begs further questions of the ICC's decision to restrict the number of teams competing in future tournaments to 10.

If Dunedin had produced fireworks, today's other Pool A match brought only disappointment as Sri Lanka dispatched a woeful Bangladesh by 92 runs in Melbourne.

Tillakaratne Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara ended unbeaten on respective scores of 161 and 105 as Sri Lanka accrued 332-1, the highest World Cup score in history managed by a side losing just one wicket. 

In response, Bangladesh were dismissed for 240 in 47 overs, with Lasith Malinga taking 3-35, but with lacklustre bowling accompanied by below-par fielding, it was always going to be too much for their batsmen to chase. 

Sri Lanka now lie second in Pool A behind New Zealand, ahead of Australia, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and England, with Scotland on the brink of elimination down in seventh.

Tomorrow's only match comes in Pool B, with South Africa facing the West Indies in Sydney..

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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