NZ A 204 all out in 50 overs (Anton Devcich 55, Nathan McCullum 44, Colin de Grandhomme 34) beat Afghanistan 99 all out in 38.5 overs (Kyle Mills 3-16, Mitchell McClenaghan 2-23, Doug Bracewell 2-9) by 105 runs at the Cricket Academy ground, Dubai.
The NZ A completed a 105 run win over Afghanistan in Dubai on a pitch described as 'spicy', after a few nervous moments with the bat. At 7-131, NZ A seemed in some trouble, but late runs from Nathan McCullum (44) and Mitchell McClenaghan (26) meant they posted a total that was competitive in the conditions.
At the top of the order Anton Devcich provided the glue, making 55 from 74 balls before being caught by Najibullah Zadran from Sharafuddin Ashraf's bowling in the 21st over.
Defending a small-ish total meant the bowers would have to step up, and step up they did, with openers Kyle Mills and McClenaghan serving up some fire and brimstone to the Afghanistan batsmen. They were 3-7 in the fourth over and never really recovered.
The pitch used at the Cricket Academy ground was Australian soil, which meant it had very different characteristics to other pitches in this part of the world, which made life difficult for the batsmen and the NZ A seamers took full advantage.
Kyle Mills finished with 3-16, McClenaghan 2-23, Doug Bracewell an extremely economic 2-9 and Matt Henry 1-17, with de Grandhomme claiming the other wicket.
Next match for NZ A is against Ireland at the same venue on Saturday evening NZ time.
