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In one of the most dramatic T20I games, Afghanistan beat Bangladesh by nine runs to qualify for the T20 World Cup 2024 semifinal for the first time. In doing so, Afghanistan also knocked Australia out of the tournament. Skipper Rashid Khan and Naveen-ul-Haq's four-wicket hauls helped Afghanistan bowl out Bangladesh for 105 with in the 18th over and defend a low target successfully.
Afghanistan will now face an unbeaten South Africa in the first semifinal which will be played at Brian Lara Stadium, Tarouba, Trinidad.
Slow start by openers
Earlier, Rashid won the toss and opted to bat first. Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran struggled in the powerplay overs. Zadran was dropped by Towhid Hridoy in the fifth over bowled by Shakib Al Hasan. After powerplay overs, they were 27 for no loss. After a six off Gurbaz's bat in the seventh over, boundaries dried up again. They were 58 for no loss after 10 overs. Rishad Hossain broke the partnership with Zadran's wicket. He scored 18 runs from 29 balls.
Rashid gets Afghanistan's score past 100
Azmatullah Omarzai could not accelerate either and lost his wicket to Mustafizur Rahman. In the next over, Rishad got rid of Gurbaz and Gulbadin Naib. The opener scored 43 runs from 55 balls. Taskin Ahmed dismissed Mohammad Nabi in the 18th over as Afghanistan were yet to cross the 100-run mark. Rashid provided much-needed acceleration. He hit Taskin for a six. After a tight penultimate over from Mustafizur, Rashid hit a couple of sixes to take Afghanistan to 115/5. Rain delayed the start of second innings at Arnos Vale Ground, Kingstown, St Vincent.
Chaotic-yet-good start for Bangladesh
Chasing 116, Litton Das hit an in-form Naveen for a four followed by a maximum. Gurbaz got injured trying to stop the ball behind the stumps. Mohammad Ishaq replaced him as a wicketkeeper. Fazalhaq Farooqi got the breakthrough by trapping Tanzid Hasan in front of the stumps for a three-ball duck. In his second over, Naveen made a comeback and struck with consecutive deliveries. Skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto was troubled by the slower one whereas Shakib Al Hasan got out caught and bowled. In the fourth over, rain interrupted the game again but no overs were lost.
Rashid gets Afghanistan back in game, Naib's Neymar moment
Rashid introduced himself after the powerplay overs and knocked over Soumya Sarkar. Nabi was unlucky in his first over as Hridoy's catch was dropped and Afghanistan conceded two boundaries due to sloppy fielding. Rashid ended Hridoy's cameo in his next over as Bangladesh lost half the side for 64. Rashid in his third over got the wickets of Mahmudullah and Rishad to reduce Bangladesh for 80/7. In the 12th over rain interrupted again. Head coach Jonathan Trott asked Afghanistan players to slow it down and Naib who was fielding at first slip held his right hamstring out of the blue. Afghanistan were two runs ahead of Bangladesh as per DLS.
Naveen wraps it up, Das remains stranded
After the game reduced Sakib could not play second fiddle to Das. Naib miraculously recovered from hamstring cramp and dismissed Sakib. After a couple of overs, Naveen put down an easy caught and bowled change. On the next ball, he made up for it by knocking over Taskin. Rain interrupted play again but when the game resumed again, Naveen got Mustafizur out lbw to bowl Bangladesh out for 105. Afghanistan won the match by eight runs as the target was reduced to 114 from 19 overs. Opener Das remained stranded on the other end for a 49-ball 54.
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