New Delhi: A sprightly Afghanistan had the last laugh as they entered their first-ever T20 World Cup semi-final, beating Bangladesh by eight runs (DLS method) in a low-scoring thriller at the Arnos Vale Ground in St. Vincent on Monday. It was a tussle between three teams of a single group (Group 1) – Afghanistan, Australia, and Bangladesh and the Rashid Khan-led side turned out to be the ultimate winners to claim the last semi-final spot.
With the win, Afghanistan are locked in for a semi-final against South Africa that will be played at the Brian Lara Stadium in Trinidad on Wednesday. In what could have been a cakewalk run-chase for Bangladesh, the Afghanistan bowlers made life terrible for their batters and sent their on-field qualification scenario for a check. Bangladesh needed to chase down a below-par 116 in 12.1 overs to seal a semi-final berth but they just couldn’t while for Afghanistan, a simple win or even a no result would have sufficed.
Afghanistan’s win over Bangladesh also means that the mighty Australian team will be packing their bags to leave for home. They relied heavily upon Bangladesh to beat the Rashid Khan-led side by fewer than 61 runs but that couldn’t be the case.
GOING TO THE SEMI-FINALS 🤯
Afghanistan defeat Bangladesh in a thriller 📲https://t.co/Jpe4CazJFY#T20WorldCup #AFGvBAN pic.twitter.com/3GLYcoXWtk
— ICC (@ICC) June 25, 2024
𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐀 𝐌𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐅𝐎𝐑 🇦🇫
Afghanistan are through to the #T20WorldCup 2024 semi-final 👏 pic.twitter.com/wugQg90R0I
— ICC (@ICC) June 25, 2024
Rain brings drama to low-scoring thriller
Meanwhile, rain started interrupting the game at regular intervals after the completion of the first innings, and a halt during the 11th over of Bangladesh chase revised their target to 114 in 19 overs. At this point, it was clear that Bangladesh are the other team eliminated from the tournament, ensuring Afghanistan as the other team to qualify from Group 1 alongside India.
However, this is where the game got its edge-of-the-seat thriller tag. With the Afghanistan bowlers striking since the start of Bangladesh’s chase, the fall of wickets were halted after the 11th over with Bangladesh at 80/7, still showing hopes to grab a win and knock out Afghanistan. The dark cloud didn’t just loom over the ground but on Rashid Khan and co. as well. It was the Bangladesh opener Litton Das (54* off 49) troubling them as he kept his stand firm and looked in no mood to go back.
The Afghanistan bowlers showed nerves of steel as the rain kept on coming back and removed the remaining three batters as well, sans Das who stood at the non-striker’s end. Naveel-ul-Haq delivered at the right moment with two consecutive wickets in the 18th over when 12 runs were required for Bangladesh. The final wicket of Mustafizur Rahman was referred to as a mere formality but to no avail, as the on-field LBW decision stood and celebrations erupted in the Afghanistan camp right away.
Bangladesh were bundled out at 105 in 17.5 overs and skipper Rashid Khan and Naveen-ul-Haq (POTM) bagged respective four-fers to headline the game.
Afghanistan’s hero 🦸♂️ 🇦🇫
Naveen-Ul-Haq is awarded the @Aramco POTM after his match-winning effort of 4/26 led his nation to the #T20WorldCup semi-finals 🏅 #AFGvBAN pic.twitter.com/Hs8YxfGUnq
— ICC (@ICC) June 25, 2024
Afghanistan innings
Opting to bat first, Afghanistan wanted to post a big total in front of their Asian rivals to ensure a comfortable win but they were taken down by a tricky pitch at the venue where the Bangladesh bowlers didn’t leak too many runs. The Afghanistan batters were struggling and the top-order rather played sluggish innings. Rahmanullah Gurbaz (43 off 55) sustained a blow on his knee and watched the Bangladesh chase from the sidelines.
None of the other batters could breach the 20-run mark as pressure weighed in on the middle order as seen clearly in a frustrated Rashid Khan. He tried to provide a late flourish to his side, smacking three sixes and taking the team’s total to a below-par 115/5 in 20 overs. Rishad Hossain was among the wickets, picking three and overtaking veteran Shakib al Hasan for most wickets in a T20 World Cup edition for Bangladesh.
Afghanistan stormed into their maiden T20 World Cup semi-final after beating Bangladesh by eight runs (DLS method) on Monday in a crunch and nail-biter knockout game that has also knocked Australia out of the 2024 edition of the marquee event. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
