Scotland lose World T20 opener against Afghanistan

World Twenty20 Group B, Nagpur:

Afghanistan 170-5 (20 overs): Shahzad 61* (39), Evans 1-24
Scotland 156-5 (20 overs): Munsey 41 (29), Rashid Khan 2-28
 

Afghanistan won by 14 runs
 

Scotland missed the chance to record a first victory at a World Twenty20 as Afghanistan held on to win by 14 runs in Nagpur.

Set 171 to win, Scotland were well placed when openers George Munsey and Kyle Coetzer shared 84 in nine overs.

But as the Afghan spinners took hold, the Scots lost 4-24 and fell short on 156-5.

Earlier, Mohammad Shahzad hit 61 from only 39 balls and Asghar Stanikzai 55 not out as Afghanistan posted 170-5.

For Afghanistan, coached by former Pakistan batsman Inzamam-ul-Haq, it is the ideal start in a Group B from which they will expect to advance into the main draw.

Scotland, however, will now need other results to go their way if they are to have a chance of reaching the second week.

Scotland's wait continues

Scotland have played in three previous World T20s and three World Cups - 22 games in total - without recording a win in a major ICC global event.

The closest they came was against the same opponents at last year's World Cup, when Afghanistan completed a thrilling run-chase in the final over to win by one wicket.

Here, Scotland had their opportunity, firstly when their bowlers applied the brakes in the second half of the Afghanistan innings and when Munsey and Coetzer were together.

But, after Coetzer holed out, the Scots fell behind and 39 runs off the final three overs was too big an ask.

Spun out

While Coetzer busily accumulated and enjoyed some luck, Munsey showed power through the off side, before both fell in the space of three balls.

Coetzer dragged a Samiullah Shenwari long hop to deep square leg, while Munsey was lbw to 17-year-old leg-spinner Rashid Khan.

Indeed, Scotland faltered as Afghanistan used the slow Nagpur pitch to bowl 12 consecutive overs of spin.

While Matt Machan remained, they had hope, but after he sliced to point in off-spinner Mohammad Nabi's excellent penultimate over, the game was as good as done.

Shahzad sparkles

That Afghanistan, the highest-ranked Associate nation in T20 cricket, got to a target that was out of reach was thanks to the squat figure of Shahzad.

Not only did the right-hander show inventiveness with ramps and reverse-sweeps, but also the raw power to hit three sixes in four balls.

But after he lofted the left-arm spin of Mark Watt to long-on, Scotland halted the charge. At one point, Afghanistan went four overs without finding a boundary.

Captain Stanikzai was steady rather than destructive - his 50-ball stay included only three boundaries - so late impetus came from Shafiqullah's five-ball 14.