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Afghanistan hopes of clinching a 2011 Cricket World Cup place just eight years after the national team was formed were all but dashed on Monday.

The sporting heroes of the war-torn nation lost by six wickets to Canada in Pretoria and with other leading teams Ireland, Kenya and Netherlands also winning.

Afghanistan must hope the Kenyans and Dutch lose their remaining two World Cup Qualifier Super 8 matches on Wednesday and Friday, while they defeat title holders Scotland and Namibia.

Net run rate would then decide which countries fill the four places on offer for the quadrennial world cricket showpiece in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Afghanistan made 265-8 in their allotted 50 overs at LC de Villiers Oval with opener Noor Ali scoring 122 before being run out.

Skipper Nowroz Mangal, who has led his cricket warriors to South Africa via qualifying tournaments in Jersey, Tanzania and Argentina, weighed in with 49, but 18-run Raees Ahmadzai was the third highest contributor.

Canadian openers Geoff Barnett (19) and Rizwan Cheema (46) raced to 67 before departing within two overs and after Ashif Mulla (16) fell cheaply, Ian Billcliff and Ashish Bagai assumed control.

An Afghan attack that has rescued a team ranked among fifth-division cricket nations just one year ago had no answer to the right handers as they added 148 for the fourth wicket.

Billcliff finished undefeated on 96 from 134 balls, including two sixes and eight fours, while Bagai made 68 in a stand that turned the tide and propelled Canada to 268-4 in 48.3 overs. Khaleqdaad Noori (1-22) was the most successful Afghan bowler, but none managed more than one wicket against opponents.

The Irish bounced back from a shock loss to Afghanistan with an eight-wicket win over the United Arab Emirates, Kenya had a 24-run victory over Scotland and the Netherlands defeated Namibia by two wickets. Canada and Ireland have eight points each with two rounds of Super 8 action left, Kenya and the Netherlands six, Scotland and UAE four and Afghanistan and Namibia two apiece.

Source:Cricket News

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