T20 World Cup 2024, Super Eight: Naveen-ul-Haq and Rashid Khan take Afghanistan to Semifinals after beating Bangladesh in a thriller - Cricket Winner

The Super Eight match of Group 1 of the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2024 took place between Afghanistan vs Bangladesh at Arnos Vale Ground, Kingstown in St Vincent on Jun 24, 08:30 PM local. Naveen-ul-Haq and Rashid Khan claimed 4 wickets each and helped Afghanistan reach the semi-final by beating Bangladesh.

Batting first, Afghanistan had a pretty slow start as in-form batters Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran failed to score quickly and added 59 runs in 10.1 overs. Bangladesh bowlers did well as they didn’t let them open their arms. Rishad Hossain provided the first breakthrough as he removed Ibrahim Zadran for a 29-ball 18 knock. Azmatullah Omarzai also failed to contribute much as he could only manage 10 runs.

Rashid Khan shines with the bat

In-form Rahmanullah Gurbaz failed to score quickly as he managed only 43 runs off 55 balls with 3 fours and a six. Apart from him, their middle order failed to fire as they got out on single-digit scores. However, captain Rashid Khan tried his best to score quickly towards the end of the innings. He smashed 3 sixes and the first one came against Taskin Ahmed in the 18th over as well. It was a slower short-of-length ball outside off and Rashid swept it over cow corner.

Meanwhile, the next two sixes came in the final over off Tanzim Hasan Sakib who bowled a fuller length delivery outside off and Rashid Khan smashed it over deep extra cover for a maximum as well. The next ball was bowled outside the off stump and Rashid Khan hit it over cow corner as well. But lack of support from the other end saw their innings end at 115 runs for 5 in 20 overs. Rishad Hossain claimed 3 wickets for Bangladesh. Rishad Hossain claimed the most wickets (14) in a T20 World Cup edition for Bangladesh.

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However, the rain played a spoilsport in between the game and the match was reduced to 19 overs due to rain, whereas the DLS target became 114. Bangladesh got a huge blow as their opener Tanzid Hasan got out for a 3-ball duck. While Najmul Hossain Shanto managed 5 runs, veteran Shakib Al Hasan got out on a golden duck, courtesy of Naveen-ul-Haq’s stunner.

Naveen-ul-Haq and Rashid Khan claim 4 wickets each

However, Litton Das held the fort and tried to steady the ship with Soumya Sarkar first and then with Towhid Hridoy. However, they managed only 10 and 14 runs respectively and their untimely dismissal left Bangladesh struggling in the middle at 64 for 5 in 8.2 overs. Meanwhile, Litton Das opened his arms and hit back-to-back fours off Rashid Khan in the 9th over and they reached 77 runs after the 10th over as well.

But, Rashid Khan had the last laugh as he removed both Mahmudullah and Rishad Hossain in consecutive deliveries and Bangladesh were reduced to 80 for 7 in 11 overs. Soon after, rain stopped the game and as per DLS, Afghanistan were ahead by two runs as well. After some time, the game again started and Rashid Khan finished his stunning spell of 4-0-23-4.

Tanzim Hasan Sakib’s struggling knock came to an end as soon as Gulbadin Naib removed him for a mere 3 off 10. Meanwhile, Litton Das, who anchored the chase, reached his fifty with a boundary in 40 balls. Soon, the equation came down to 12 off 12.

Amid this, Litton Das got a life as his catch was dropped. But, Naveen-ul-Haq made no mistake in dismissing Taskin Ahmed with a slower ball. And, rain again stopped the play. However, when the game started, Naveen-ul-Haq trapped Mustafizur before the stumps and sealed the deal for his side. He also claimed 4 wickets and finished a brilliant spell with 3.5-0-26-4. With this, Afghanistan have booked their place in the semifinal and knocked Australia out of the World Cup.

However, Rashid Khan became the first bowler with most 4-wicket hauls in Men’s T20Is – 9. Meanwhile, Rashid Khan (4/23) and Naveen-ul-Haq (4/26) became one of the pairs where two bowlers with 4-wicket hauls in a T20 World Cup innings. On the other hand, Litton Das became the third batter playing through a completed T20I innings as well.

Player of the Match

Naveen-ul-Haq said: “Thank you so much, I want to thank mighty Allah for this achievement, we have worked hard for this since the last few years, we were dreaming and working for this day and it’s a surreal feeling. We always knew that they would go hard in the powerplay to chase the total down in 12.1 overs, so we knew we were in the game, the plan was simple – to mix it up and we got crucial wickets in the powerplay.

These are the games you never know what can happen, after a boundary, you feel the game is gone, but a wicket brings you back in the game, so the margin for error is very small. These kind of wickets are not high-scoring ones so you are always in the game. We have worked hard for this and we are in the semis, we are very happy.”