Afghanistan Women’s Team Returns with Exhibition Match Against Cricket Without Borders XI in Melbourne

A group of women who received their first-ever central contracts in November 2020, had to unfortunately fly out of their home nation for safety reasons ever since the Taliban took over control in August 2021. They moved to Australia and have formed their base at the Junction Oval, Melbourne and Canberra, where they have been training and practising for a long time now.

They were finally given an opportunity to make a step towards re-establishing their identity, by displaying their skill while representing the Afghanistan Women’s XI against Cricket Without Borders XI in an exhibition T20 game at the Junction Oval, Melbourne on the same day as the historic Pink Ball Women’s Ashes Test match of the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

Afghanistan Women's Team Returns with Exhibition Match Against Cricket Without Borders XI in Melbourne; PC: Getty
Afghanistan Women’s Team Returns with Exhibition Match Against Cricket Without Borders XI in Melbourne; PC: Getty

The Afghanistan openers Shukriya Noori and Sofia Yosofzai got their side off to a decent start with a 13-run opening partnership. The Cricket Without Borders XI bounced back to remove both openers in quick succession. Shazia Zazai joined Shabnam Ahsan at the crease and the duo stitched a much-needed 20-run partnership for the 3rd wicket. Jessica Bohn picked up the wicket of Shabnam Ahsan to provide the 3rd breakthrough for her side.

Nilab Stanikzai joined Shazia Zazai (40 off 45 balls) at the crease and the duo took their side closer to the 100-run mark with a crucial 51-run partnership for the 4th wicket. Abby Collihole broke the partnership by removing Nilab Stanikzai (13 off 21 balls) to provide the 4th breakthrough for her side. Afghanistan Women posted a competitive total of 103/9 in their quota of 20 overs.

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Abby Collihole (2-0-4-2), stood out with the ball, while Audrey Ringe (2-0-5-1), Jessica Bohn (2-0-6-1), Maddi Tobias (2-0-10-1), and Anna Quinsey-Munro (3-0-18-1) picked up a wicket each with the ball for Cricket Without Borders XI.

Afghanistan Women XI; PC: Getty
Afghanistan Women XI; PC: Getty

Chasing a target of 104, Cricket Without Borders XI openers Kamaljot Kaur and Jessica Bohn got their side off to a good start with a 21-run opening partnership. Friba Hotak picked up the wicket of Jessica Bohn to provide the first breakthrough for the Afghanistan Women’s XI. Jess Field joined Kamaljot Kaur at the crease and the duo stitched another crucial 20-run partnership for the 2nd wicket to take their side closer to the 50-run mark.

Shabnam Ahsan picked up the wicket of Kamaljot Kaur (26 off 20 balls) to provide the much-needed breakthrough for her side. Cricket Without Borders XI eventually got over the line with seven wickets in hand and four balls to spare. Abby Collihole (22 off 20 balls), and Jess Field (16 off 20 balls) were the other two batters to enter into the double digits with the bat for Cricket Without Borders XI.

England captain Heather Knight was among several attendees; PC: Getty
England captain Heather Knight was among several attendees; PC: Getty

Friba Hotak (3-0-12-1), Shafiqa Noorzai (2.2-0-13-1), and Shabnam Ahsan (1-0-8-1) were the wicket-takers with the ball, while Nilab Stanikzai (4-0-17-0), and Shazia Zazai (4-0-17-0) were impressive with the ball for the Afghanistan Women’s XI.

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