Afghanistan won the Hong Kong International Sixes for the first time on Sunday, beating Australia by four wickets in the final at Mission Road Ground in Mong Kok. They chased down a target of 116 with five balls to spare.
Australia, batting first, made 115 for five from their six overs, led by Max Bryant's 44 off 14 balls. Afghanistan lost Karim Janat and captain Gulbadin Naib early and were 32 for two before Imran Mir and Farmanullah Safi took the game away.
Mir struck an unbeaten 53 from just 14 balls, with seven sixes and two fours, while Safi hit four sixes in an unbeaten 26 off seven. Their unbroken stand of 87 carried Afghanistan to 119 for two in 5.1 overs.
Afghanistan went through the tournament unbeaten, beating South Africa and Oman in the group stage and Scotland in the semi-final, where Naib hit an unbeaten 51 off 16 balls. It was only their second appearance at the event, and they become the eighth country to win it. The Afghanistan Cricket Board congratulated the team on what it called an outstanding all-round performance.