Afghanistan triumphed over Bangladesh by eight wickets, advancing to the semi-finals of the inaugural T20 World Cup. Naveen-ul-Haq’s stellar bowling performance was pivotal in Afghanistan’s historic win, igniting celebrations across Taliban-ruled Afghanistan.
The combination of Rashid Khan and Naveen-ul-Haq’s excellent bowling quickly dismantled Bangladesh’s batting lineup. This article summarizes the match, highlighting key moments and the scorecard.
Table of Contents
Afghanistan vs Bangladesh T20
Also, Afghanistan: 115 runs
Afghanistan is just four wickets away from securing a record-breaking spot in the T20 World Cup semi-finals. A win against Bangladesh at Arnos Vale also eliminates Australia from Group 1, pushing them out of contention. However, the match has seen its share of interruptions due to persistent rain in St. Vincent.
Afghanistan’s batters struggled early on a difficult pitch, with their first innings yielding limited runs. Rishad Hossain was the standout performer for Bangladesh, taking three wickets with support from his teammates to contain Afghanistan’s scoring.
Heavy rain began to fall as the match progressed into the final 20 overs, but Afghanistan maintained a commanding lead. Rashid Khan added excitement with a flurry of sixes before a brief moment of frustration with his partner Karim Janat for missing a run opportunity. Rashid continued his aggressive play, sending another ball nearly out of the ground and leaving.
Afghanistan at 115/5 with just five overs remaining
Bangladesh’s Litton Das and Taskin Ahmed started cautiously but gradually built momentum, edging closer to Afghanistan’s target on the DLS method. However, Naveen-ul-Haq broke their partnership, dismissing Taskin with a well-placed delivery that trapped him near the wicket.
Bangladesh needs a convincing win in their final group match against Australia to keep their semi-final hopes alive. Trailing by five runs on the DLS method with one over left, they must win and rely on favorable conditions to make it through.
With only three balls remaining to secure their first-ever T20 World Cup semi-final spot, Bangladesh faces an uphill battle to overtake Australia and will need a mix of skill and luck to succeed.
Bangladesh: 105 runs
In a thrilling Afghanistan vs Bangladesh World Cup Match between Afghanistan and Bangladesh, Afghanistan dominated the first half, setting a competitive target of 115 runs in their 20 overs. Bangladesh, needing 111 runs to win in their full 20 overs, fell short by eight wickets. Despite the loss, they remained in contention for semi-final qualification, but only if they could secure a massive win in their next match.
Afghanistan’s resounding victory secured their first-ever World Cup semi-final spot. They had previously defeated both New Zealand and Australia to reach this historic moment. Afghanistan made history, led by Asghar Stanikzai, an internationally renowned cricketer with experience playing in over 30 Test matches and 200+ ODIs. Stanikzai, known for his bowling prowess, boasts over 90 ODI wickets with an average of 18.67. He also contributed to Afghanistan’s win in the 2013 Asian Champions Trophy and has an excellent track record against Bangladesh, with six wins and two losses.
More details on Afghanistan vs Bangladesh T20 World Cup Match
Bangladesh started their innings strong, but after losing key wickets, they struggled to maintain momentum. Litton Das stood out for Bangladesh, scoring 54 off 49 balls with four sixes. Contributions from Soumya Sarkar and Towhid Hridoy kept the innings afloat, but ultimately, Bangladesh couldn’t keep pace.
Najmul Hossain Shanto’s dismissal, caught behind by Gulbadin Naib, further reduced Bangladesh’s target due to adverse weather conditions. As the rain poured heavily, the team’s hopes of qualifying for the semi-finals were slipping away, requiring a monumental effort in the remaining overs.
Final Scorecard
Afghanistan secured their place in the T20 World Cup semi-finals with a historic win over Bangladesh at Arnos Vale Stadium, St Vincent. Defending a DLS-adjusted target of 105 runs in 17.5 overs, Afghanistan bowled out Bangladesh for just 97 runs, winning by eight under the DLS method. With this victory, they knocked pre-tournament favorite Australia out of the competition.
The match faced multiple rain interruptions, but that didn’t diminish the excitement. Bangladesh’s Litton Das fought valiantly, remaining unbeaten with 54 runs, but the aggressive Afghan bowling, led by Rashid Khan, Naveen-ul-Haq, and Fazalhaq Farooqi, proved too much to handle. Taskin Ahmed struggled against Naveen-ul-Haq’s pace, and a controversial LBW decision against him, upheld by UltraEdge, marked a turning point.
Conclusion
As the rain intensified, Bangladesh’s chase faltered. Rashid Khan secured a critical wicket, catching the faintest edge off Mahmudullah’s bat, confirmed by a review. Naveen-ul-Haq’s final delivery, which trapped Mustafizur Rahman LBW, sealed the win and sent Afghanistan’s players, staff, and fans into wild celebrations. It was an unforgettable finish to one of the recent most dramatic cricket contests.
