In a close victory over Bangladesh on Monday at Arnos Vale Ground, Rashid Khan and Naveen-ul-Haq both claimed four wickets to help Afghanistan advance to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 semi-finals.
In a match affected by weather, Afghanistan managed to contain Bangladesh for 105 runs in 17.5 overs, even with Litton Das scoring an undefeated fifty-seven.
To qualify for the semi-finals, Bangladesh had to chase the score in 12.1 overs. If Bangladesh had not chased inside the allotted overs, Australia would have qualified instead.
Das got Bangladesh off to a terrific start in the opening over, hitting 13 runs off Naveen-ul-Haq. But, the bowler came back brilliantly in the next over, taking two wickets in the space of two balls.
In the second over, Tanzid Hasan was bowled by Fazalhaq Farooqi. Naveen-ul-Haq then removed Bangladesh’s captain Najmul Hossain Shanto (5) and Shakib Al Hasan on successive deliveries.
Rain interrupted play for 20 minutes with Bangladesh behind 31-3 in 3.2 overs.
Following the interval, Das and Soumya Sarkar (10) tried to launch a Bangladeshi comeback with a 25-run partnership, but Rashid Khan, the Afghanistan captain, spoiled their party by getting rid of Sarkar.
Before becoming a target for Rashid Khan, Towhid Hridoy scored 14 off 9 against Mohammad Nabi and hit two boundaries.
Das fought alone since Afghanistan could not be really threatened by any batter from Bangladesh.
Using the Duckworth Lewis Stern technique (DLS), Rashid Khan removed Mahmdullah (6) and Rishad Hossain (0) prior to a brief rain delay, bringing the goal down to 114 in 19 overs.
Naveen-ul-Haq took the final two wickets on consecutive deliveries as Bangladesh collapsed for 105 after Das reached his half-century in 41 balls with a four off Noor Ahmed. Nevertheless, wickets kept falling from the other end.
With bowling statistics of 4-26 and 4-23, respectively, Naveen-ul-Haq and Rashid Khan made a comeback. Naib and Farooqi, meanwhile, each took one wicket.
Afghanistan chose to bat first but was unable to get off to the ideal start due to Bangladesh’s economical bowling.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran, who batted first, did not make a sound in the first ten overs, but they did manage to score 58 runs off of just two fours and one six.
But with the pressure mounting, Zadran tried a powerful shot on Rishad Hossain, only to be caught by Tanzim Hasan Sakib.
The right-handed batter hit one boundary and scored a shaky 18 off 29.
Gurbaz was unable to break free after the seventh over due to Hossain’s two fours; nonetheless, he was sent out by the same bowler on the opening ball of his subsequent over.
Gurbaz amassed the highest score with a circumspect 43 runs off 55 balls, three fours, and a six. In the same over, Soumya Sarkar’s outstanding catch allowed Gulbadin Naib to fall as well.
Then, in a 10-ball cameo, Afghanistan’s captain Rashid Khan scored 19 runs with three sixes, including two in the last over, to enable his side reach 115-5 in 20 overs.
After his return, Hossain finished with a 3-26 bowling average. Mustafizur Rahman and Taskin Ahmed each took one wicket.
