DUNEDIN (AP):

The Afghanistan cricket team brought tremendous joy to its far-flung fans when it beat Scotland by one wicket in the last over, to claim its first win at the Cricket World Cup.

Samuillah Shenwari scored 96 to bat Afghanistan to the threshold of victory yesterday as it chased Scotland's 210, but was out with 19 runs needed, 19 balls remaining and one wicket standing. The last-wicket pair of Hamid Hassan (15 not out) and Shapoor Zadran (12 not out) combined in a nerveless partnership which completed the famous win with three balls to spare.

Shapoor struck the third ball of Iain Wardlaw's final over for a boundary to end the most passionately contested match to date at the 2015 World Cup.

"Thanks to Allah," Shenwari said. "I was thankful to ... get the win for Afghanistan. Afghanistan has been the most impassioned team at the tournament, celebrating every wicket with unrestrained displays of jubilation, including cartwheels and quiet prayers.

So far, are they far from the norm of professional cricket, where players tend to be measured and media-trained, that they have brought a new dimension to the tournament.

Afghanistan are competing at their first World Cup in the 50-over format and none of the 14 teams contesting the quadrennial event has had a tougher road to the tournament. War has affected Afghanistan's security and infrastructure.

Shapoor Zadran (4-38) and Dhawat Zadran (3-29) reduced Scotland to 144-8 on a seaming pitch before a 62-run ninth-wicket stand between Majid Haq (31) and Alasdair Evans lifted the Scots past 200 for the first time at a World Cup.

Scotland then seemed to have the upper hand, and in a match between teams that had never won a World Cup match, their claim to victory seemed equally compelling.