In a dramatic turn of events at the T20 World Cup Super Eights, Afghanistan secured a spot in the semi-finals by defeating Bangladesh. The match, which was crucial for both teams' chances, ended with Afghanistan winning by 8 runs before rain intervened, halting Bangladesh's chase of 116 runs.
Bangladesh faced early setbacks as Afghan pacers Naveen Ul Haq and Fazalhaq Farooqi dismantled their top order, reducing them to 31/3 in just 3.3 overs. Despite a spirited effort, Bangladesh could not recover from the early blows and fell short in their pursuit.
Earlier in the match, Bangladesh's bowlers, led by leg-spinner Rishad Hossain's impressive figures of three for 26, restricted Afghanistan to 115/5. Afghanistan struggled to accelerate their innings after a solid opening partnership of 59 runs in 10.4 overs. Rahmanullah Gurbaz top-scored with 43 runs off 55 balls, but the team struggled to maintain momentum.
Key Performances and Strategic Moves
Bangladesh's Taskin Ahmed, who came into the lineup after changes following their loss to India, bowled a tight spell conceding only 12 runs in his four overs and crucially dismissing Mohammad Nabi. Captain Rashid Khan's late blitz with an unbeaten 19 runs, including three sixes in the final overs, helped Afghanistan reach a competitive total.
Implications for Semi-Final Qualification
The victory for Afghanistan meant they secured a spot in the semi-finals, leaving Australia out of contention. Bangladesh's loss dashed their hopes of progressing despite earlier defeats in the Super Eights. Australia's slim chances now hinge on Bangladesh winning narrowly, which could impact their net run rate.
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