Rashid Khan led Afghanistan becomes the fifth team to be qualified for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 Super 8 stage. In their recent clash, Afghanistan defeated Papua New Guinea by 7 wickets and advanced to the Super 8 round.
West Indies and Afghanistan are the teams to be qualified for the Super 8 stage from Group C while Uganda, PNG and New Zealand who were placed in the same group got eliminated from the race.
Speaking of the AFG vs PNG clash, Afghanistan won the toss and opted to bowl first. PNG’s Tony Ura and Assad Vala opened the inning and failed to lay a strong foundation for the team.
Assad Vala lost his wicket in an unpleasant run-out dismissal in the second over while in the next over, Fazalhaq Farooqi bagged back-to-back wickets by dismissing Lega Siaka(0) and Sese Bau(0).
𝐁𝐎𝐖𝐋𝐄𝐃! A first-ball wicket Naveen-ul-Haq and Afghanistan are 🔝
Will 🇦🇫 restrict PNG under 100 to qualify for the Super 8? #AFGvPNG | LIVE NOW | #T20WorldCupOnStar pic.twitter.com/t82H0H9q8a
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) June 14, 2024
Before recovering from the shock, Naveen-ul-Haq dismissed Hiri Hiri(1) in the fourth over and loaded pressure on the PNG batters.
PNG lost four wickets for just 17 and were in need of building a partnership which could save them from registering a low score.
PNG opening batter Tony Ura and Chad Soper made a 13-run stand (which is the highest partnership so far in this game) but before making progress Naveen-ul-Haq struck back and dismissed Ura for 11 runs.
Afghanistan with their impressive bowling spell bagged seven wickets for 50 runs in 12.1 overs. Kiplin Doriga and Alei Nao for the eighth wicket made a partnership of 38 runs.
The threatening partnership was broken by Noor Ahmad in the 18th over while in the very next over, Fazalhaq Farooqi in his final over dismissed Alei Nao(13) and finished the inning with a figure of 4-0-16-3. Papua New Guinea lost all their 10 wickets for 95 runs with a ball left to bowl.
While chasing Afghans made a struggling start by losing a couple of wickets within the first powerplay. Following a couple of losses, Gulbadin Naib made a stand by scoring an unbeaten 49 and paved the way for the victory.
In 15.1 overs, Afghanistan chased down the target with 7 wickets to spare. With the victory, Afghanistan advanced to the Super 8 round while New Zealand got knocked out of the tournament.
Afghanistan will play their next game of the tournament against West Indies on June 18 in Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia.
