Afghanistan’s dreams of qualifying for the second successive World Cup were left hanging by a thread when Hong Kong defeated them by 30 runs on the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern Method in Group B.

Afghanistan, chasing 242 for victory, were 167 for seven when rain stopped play and resulted in a loss of four overs. The target was revised to 226 runs in 46 overs, but it proved too much for the lower-order which managed only 28 runs as Afghanistan finished at 195 for nine.

The victory means that if Hong Kong now win their next game against Zimbabwe and Nepal lose to Afghanistan, Hong Kong will be guaranteed a spot in the Super Six ahead of Afghanistan. If this doesn’t happen on Saturday, then Hong Kong can qualify for the Super Six if they defeat Nepal on Monday. This is because Hong Kong have a win and a loss after two matches, while Afghanistan are winless from three matches.

In contrast, Afghanistan have an outside chance to qualify for Super Six. For this to happen, they will have to beat Nepal on Saturday and Hong Kong will have to lose both their matches on Saturday and Monday. In this scenario, net run-rate will decide which side will go through as both Hong Kong and Afghanistan would end on equal wins and points.

Afghanistan are themselves to blame for Thursday’s defeat. They first let Hong Kong off the hook when they allowed them to reach 241 for eight in 50 overs after having reduced them to 43 for three and then 93 for four. Then, in their target chase, they slipped from 26 for no loss to 73 for four and then played too many dot-balls to be at 167 for seven in 43 overs at the rain-break before finishing at 195 for nine.

Off-spinner Ehsan Khan of Hong Kong was the wrecker-in-chief of Afghanistan’s innings when he recorded figures of 9-0-33-4, while Nadeem Ahmed picked up two for 37. Dawlat Zadran, batting at No.9, was the top scorer for Afghanistan with 40 not out.

Earlier, Hong Kong’s left-handed batsman Anshuman Rath scored a fighting 65 off 90 balls with six fours and six, and added 50 runs for the fourth wicket with Nizakat Khan (28) and 67 runs for the fifth wicket with captain Babar Hayat (31). No.11 batsman Tanwir Afzal provided the late impetus to the innings by slapping three fours and a six in a nine-ball 22.

This was Hong Kong’s first victory over Afghanistan in two ODIs. Afghanistan had won the previous encounter in May 2014 by six wickets.