One of the most impressive features of Nowroz Mangal's Afghan side is their resilience: put them under pressure, and they respond by intensifying their effort sufficiently to overcome most of their rivals.

So it was in the Dubai International Stadium on Thursday, when the Afghan pace attack, backed up by some excellent fielding, turned in a sustained display of aggression and accuracy which blew away a Namibian top order which has itself been one of the most successful in this tournament.

Defending a fairly modest total of 146, they went onto the attack from the very first ball of the Namibian innings, which Dawlat Zadran crashed through into the stumps of Raymond van Schoor, the leading run-scorer in the competition.

A cheeky bye for Louis van der Westhuizen, taken when keeper Mohammad Shahzad dropped the ball, brought Gerrie Snyman on strike, and as he played and missed at the first ball he received the Afghans launched a huge celebration for a catch at the wicket which was firmly turned down.

There was no doubt about the next one, however, which Snyman edged to Shahzad's right and the keeper got down to take a very good, and this time undoubted, catch. After five deliveries Namibia were 1 for two, and both openers were back in the metaphorical pavilion.

Dawlat continued the mayhem in his following over, a wicket maiden which included the wicket of Craig Williams, who was well caught by Mohammad Nabi at cover point, and when Aftab Alam, whose wayward first over had included two wides and two no balls, removed Louis van der Westhuizen in his next, Namibia were 18 for four from just 28 deliveries, and the game was effectively over.

Sarel Burger and Nico Scholtz shored up the innings with a defiant partnership of 45, but it took them nearly eight overs to do so, and the required rate was climbing all the time. The boundaries were rare, even against the spinners, and when Scholtz was run out for 22, Burger following soon afterwards for the same score, the Namibian challenge again faltered.

Ian Opperman and Christi Viljoen chipped in with 15 apiece, but when Nowroz reintroduced Aftab into the attack he discovered a degree of accuracy which had eluded him in his first spell, hitting the stumps three times to remove Viljoen, Merwe Erasmus and Louis Klazinga and to finish with four for 25. When Opperman was run out, Namibia were all out for 99, losing by 47 runs.

It was Dawlat's three-wicket onslaught at the top of the innings which had been decisive, however, and with three for 5 it was right that he was declared the Man of the Match.

Earlier, Sarel Burger had also turned in a fine performance with the ball, combining with Van Schoor to slow down the Afghans' progress after Karim Sadiq and Javed Ahmadi had again threatened to cut loose.

They took 56 from the first six overs after Nowroz won the toss, but when Burger brought himself into the attack he enticed Karim into a false stroke which gave him a return catch, running away towards mid-on to take the ball over his shoulder. Karim had made 28 from 24 deliveries.

Only 40 runs came from the eight-over spell bowled by Burger and Van Schoor, with just a single boundary, and between them the two medium-pacers brought Namibia back into the game. Burger, moreover, picked up two more wickets, bowling Ahmadi and trapping Mohammad Shahzad in front.

Viljoen, who had come in for some of the early punishment, now hit back as the Afghan middle order tried to regain the initiative, and with three run-outs contributing to their problems, the defending champions were eventually dismissed off the final ball of their twenty overs for 146.

Burger finished with three for 16 and Viljoen with three for 34. It had been a fine effort, but to the delight of a thousand or so of their fans, Dawlat and Co. ensured that it was all in vain.