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Afghanistan continued to shine in the ongoing ODI World Cup as they thrashed Netherlands by seven wickets at the Ekana stadium in Lucknow on November 3, Friday. Afghanistan not only won the match and boosted their semifinal chances but also dented Pakistan's hopes to finish in top four.
Bowling first Afghanistan rode on Mohammad Nabi's brilliant three-fer to restrict Netherlands to a paltry 179 despite Sybrand Engelbrecht's fifty. In reply, Shahidi and Rahmat Shah struck impressive half-centuries and chased down the lowly target with seven wickets and 18.3 overs to spare.
Courtsey to this win, Afghanistan surged to fifth in the points table with eight points ahead of Pakistan's six points and behind New Zealand on net run rate. Notably, Afghanistan had won only one game in two previous World Cups, but displaying a stellar show in the ongoing World Cup 2023 they now have four victories in seven games. They have also beaten defending champions England, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
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In another display of consistent batting prowess, Rahmat Shah and Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah continued their run-scoring spree in the World Cup, each notching up their third consecutive fifty in the tournament. Rahmat, following up on his 77 against Pakistan and a 62 versus Sri Lanka, crafted a swift 52 off 54 deliveries, including eight boundaries, reinforcing his role as a key player in Afghanistan's batting lineup.
The partnership between Rahmat and Hashmatullah proved pivotal, contributing a solid 74 runs for the third wicket and stabilising Afghanistan's innings after the early dismissal of openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran. Rahmat's innings ended with him being caught and bowled by Saqib Zulfiqar, but not before steering his team towards a strong position for victory.
Hashmatullah maintained his rich vein of form with an unbeaten 56 from 64 balls adding to his impressive scores of 80 against the formidable Indian bowling attack and a 58 in the clash with Sri Lanka.
Earlier, Afghanistan showcased a clinical fielding display to dismantle the Netherlands' batting line-up, restricting them to a modest total of 179 in their World Cup showdown. The Netherlands, looking to set a challenging score, were undone by Afghanistan's tenacious bowling and agile fieldwork.
Sybrand Engelbrecht emerged as the lynchpin for the Dutch, crafting a resilient 58 off 86 deliveries amidst a batting meltdown. His efforts to elevate the Netherlands to a formidable total, however, were thwarted by a series of calamitous run-outs and sharp catches.
The Dutch innings initially promised competitiveness with Max O'Dowd (42 off 40) and Colin Ackermann (29) at the helm, forging a rapid 70-run partnership. Yet, their promising advance was abruptly halted as Afghanistan’s fielders, particularly Azamatullah Omarzai with a pivotal direct hit, orchestrated a mid-innings derailment.
From a secure 73 for one, the Netherlands found themselves floundering at 92/5, the middle-order’s resistance crumbling within the first 20 overs. The collapse was accentuated by a combination of poor running between the wickets and Afghanistan's impeccable fielding prowess.
Ikram Alikhil, Afghanistan’s wicketkeeper, took center stage with a hand in four dismissals, including two run-outs and sharp catches off the spinning duo of Mohammad Nabi and Noor Ahmad. Nabi, exploiting the wear on the Lucknow pitch, finished with impressive figures of 3/28, while Ahmad supported with a stingy 2/31.
The match turned on its head when a well-set O'Dowd fell short of his crease, succumbing to the pressure of Afghanistan's defensive strategy. Ackermann's dismissal followed in similar fashion, further sinking Dutch hopes.
Afghanistan's spinners rounded off a comprehensive bowling performance, with Mujeeb Ur Rahman also chipping in with a wicket, as they maintained a stranglehold over the proceedings.
Afghanistan will next face Australia on November 7 while Netherlands will lock horns with England on November 8.
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