• Mirwais Ashraf of Balkh Legends takes the wicket of Ihsanullah of Paktia Panthers in the Afghanistan Premier League match at Sharjah Cricket Stadium. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Mirwais Ashraf of Balkh Legends takes the wicket of Ihsanullah of Paktia Panthers in the Afghanistan Premier League match at Sharjah Cricket Stadium. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Captain Mohammad Nabi of Balkh bowls at a Paktia Panthers batsman. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Captain Mohammad Nabi of Balkh bowls at a Paktia Panthers batsman. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Gulbadin Naib of Balkh takes the wicket of Mohammad Shahzad of Paktia. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Gulbadin Naib of Balkh takes the wicket of Mohammad Shahzad of Paktia. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Captain Mohammad Nabi of Balkh during the game against Paktia Panthers. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Captain Mohammad Nabi of Balkh during the game against Paktia Panthers. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Fans celebrate during the game between Balkh Legends and Paktia Panthers in the Afghanistan Premier League. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Fans celebrate during the game between Balkh Legends and Paktia Panthers in the Afghanistan Premier League. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Chris Gayle before the game between Balkh Legends and Paktia Panthers in the Afghanistan Premier League. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Chris Gayle before the game between Balkh Legends and Paktia Panthers in the Afghanistan Premier League. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Mohammad Shahzad bats for Paktia during the game between Balkh Legends and Paktia Panthers in the Afghanistan Premier League. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Mohammad Shahzad bats for Paktia during the game between Balkh Legends and Paktia Panthers in the Afghanistan Premier League. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Ihsanullah bats for the Paktia during the game between Balkh Legends and Paktia Panthers in the Afghanistan Premier League. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Ihsanullah bats for the Paktia during the game between Balkh Legends and Paktia Panthers in the Afghanistan Premier League. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Shahid Afridi bats for the Paktia during the game between Balkh Legends and Paktia Panthers in the Afghanistan Premier League. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Shahid Afridi bats for the Paktia during the game between Balkh Legends and Paktia Panthers in the Afghanistan Premier League. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Mirwais Ashraf of Balkh takes the wicket of Ihsanullah of Paktia during the game between Balkh Legends and Paktia Panthers in the Afghanistan Premier League. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Mirwais Ashraf of Balkh takes the wicket of Ihsanullah of Paktia during the game between Balkh Legends and Paktia Panthers in the Afghanistan Premier League. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Samiullah Shenwari for the Paktia is run out during the game between Balkh Legends and Paktia Panthers in the Afghanistan Premier League. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Samiullah Shenwari for the Paktia is run out during the game between Balkh Legends and Paktia Panthers in the Afghanistan Premier League. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Gulbadin Naib of Balkh takes the wicket of Mohammad Shahzad of Paktia during the game between Balkh Legends and Paktia Panthers in the Afghanistan Premier League. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Gulbadin Naib of Balkh takes the wicket of Mohammad Shahzad of Paktia during the game between Balkh Legends and Paktia Panthers in the Afghanistan Premier League. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Fans celebrate during the game between Balkh Legends and Paktia Panthers in the Afghanistan Premier League. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Fans celebrate during the game between Balkh Legends and Paktia Panthers in the Afghanistan Premier League. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Chris Gayle of Balkh during the game between Balkh Legends and Paktia Panthers in the Afghanistan Premier League. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Chris Gayle of Balkh during the game between Balkh Legends and Paktia Panthers in the Afghanistan Premier League. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Chris Gayle bats for Balkh during the game between Balkh Legends and Paktia Panthers in the Afghanistan Premier League. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Chris Gayle bats for Balkh during the game between Balkh Legends and Paktia Panthers in the Afghanistan Premier League. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Chris Gayle bats for Balkh during the game between Balkh Legends and Paktia Panthers in the Afghanistan Premier League. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Chris Gayle bats for Balkh during the game between Balkh Legends and Paktia Panthers in the Afghanistan Premier League. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Cricket

Cameron Delport ruins Chris Gayle's Afghanistan Premier League debut - in pictures

South African's unbeaten 70 guides Paktia Panthers to victory over Balkh Legends

The National

October 11, 2018

  • English
  • Arabic

Cameron Delport's unbeaten 70 helped guide Paktia Panthers to a 37-run win in the Afghanistan Premier League in Sharjah on Wednesday in which Chris Gayle made his debut for Balkh Legends.

Openers Mohammad Shahzad (42) and Ihsanullah (47) laid the platform with before Delport bludgeoned the Balkh attack as Paktia reached 204-4 off their 20 overs.

West Indies batsman Gayle was bowled by left-arm paceman Isuru Udana when after scoring 20 off his first 10 balls.

Balkh failed to build any meaningful partnerships, with Legends captain Mohammad Nabi top-scoring with a 15-ball 40 as Udana went on to claim the wickets of Gulbadin Naib (8), Mirwais Ashraf (16) and Aftab Alam (2).

Victory put Paktia top of the five-team table with two wins from their three matches, with Kabul Zwanan and Balkh level on four points.

________________

Read more:

ICC says new, short-format leagues will find it harder to get sanctioned in future

Afghanistan Premier League: teams, fixtures, tickets and everything else you need to know

________________

Premier LeagueAfghanistanCricket