Afghanistan’s cricket team showcased a dominant performance, consigning Papua New Guinea (PNG) to a significant defeat at Trinidad’s Brian Lara Stadium in match number 29 of the ongoing 2024 T20 World Cup. This victory not only underscored Afghanistan’s growing prowess in the cricketing world but also ensured their progression to the Super Eights stage, alongside co-hosts West Indies, effectively knocking New Zealand out of the tournament.

First Innings: Papua New Guinea’s struggle

Papua New Guinea, batting first, faced immediate challenges. The early overs saw them losing crucial wickets, which set a negative tone for the rest of their innings. Fazalhaq Farooqi, Afghanistan’s new-ball pacer, was the star of the show, initiating a collapse that PNG struggled to recover from.

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Fazalhaq Farooqi shatters PNG top-order

Fazalhaq Farooqi’s spell was nothing short of spectacular. In just the second over, PNG’s skipper and opening batter, Assad Vala, fell victim to a disastrous runout. Seizing the momentum, Farooqi then removed Lega Siaka and Sese Bau in successive deliveries, both for first-ball ducks, leaving PNG reeling at 12-3 in just 2.2 overs.

Naveen-ul-Haq joins the party

As if Farooqi’s heroics weren’t enough, Naveen-ul-Haq entered the fray with equal ferocity. In his first two overs, Naveen claimed the wickets of Hiri Hiri and opener Tony Ura, further crippling PNG’s innings. By the end of the powerplay, PNG’s scoreboard read a dismal 30-5.

Middle and lower order collapse

PNG’s middle and lower order offered little resistance. Three of their final five wickets fell to runouts, highlighting their poor running between the wickets. Noor Ahmad’s beautifully-disguised googly trapped a well-set Kiplin Doriga, while Farooqi returned to dismiss number nine Alei Nao, finishing with impressive figures of 3-16.

Bowling Brilliance of Afghanistan

Afghanistan’s bowlers were relentless, combining precision with aggression. Their fielding was equally commendable, as evidenced by the multiple runouts. The collective effort saw PNG’s innings wrap up for just 95 in 19.5 overs, a score far below par in T20 cricket.

PNG’s total of 95 was a testament to Afghanistan’s disciplined bowling and sharp fielding. Comparatively, this performance was below their usual standards, highlighting the pressure exerted by Afghanistan from the very beginning.

Afghanistan’s Chase: A rocky start

Chasing a modest target, Afghanistan faced their own set of challenges early on. PNG’s new-ball bowlers, Semo Kamea and Alei Nao, struck early to remove Afghanistan’s openers Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmanullah Gurbaz. By 2.5 overs, Afghanistan had slipped to 22-2, making the chase seem less straightforward.

Semo Kamea bowled an exceptional delivery to knock back Zadran’s middle stump in the second over. Alei Nao followed suit by breaching through Gurbaz’s defenses. These early blows injected some excitement into what seemed like a one-sided contest.

Gulbadin Naib’s steadying role

However, Gulbadin Naib’s calm and composed innings brought stability. Naib scored an unbeaten 49 off 36 balls, anchoring the innings and ensuring that there were no further hiccups. His partnerships with Azmatullah Omarzai (13 off 18) and Mohammad Nabi (16* off 23 balls) were crucial in steadying the ship.

Azmatullah Omarzai and Mohammad Nabi played their roles perfectly, providing the necessary support to Naib. Their contributions, though not massive, were vital in preventing any further collapses and ensuring a smooth chase.

In the end, Afghanistan chased down the target with seven wickets in hand and 29 balls to spare. This comprehensive victory highlighted their all-round performance, from bowling to fielding to a steady chase.

Impact on Group C standings

This win propelled Afghanistan into the Super Eights stage, joining the West Indies from Group C. The victory also meant that New Zealand, despite their efforts, were knocked out of the race, showcasing the unpredictability and competitiveness of the tournament.