Afghanistan Creates History: T20 WC Semis

The 2024 T20 World Cup witnessed a dramatic turn of events on Tuesday as Afghanistan edged past Bangladesh in a rain-affected Super 8 encounter. This thrilling victory not only secured Afghanistan’s maiden T20 World Cup semi-final berth but also sent shockwaves through the tournament by knocking out former champions Australia.

Image Source: espncricinfo.com

Played at the Arnos Vale Stadium in St Vincent, the match was a rollercoaster ride from the very beginning. Afghanistan, electing to bat first on a bowler-friendly pitch, found run-scoring a challenge. Openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran provided a cautious start, but wickets fell at regular intervals, leaving the onus on skipper Rashid Khan to provide a late flourish. Khan, known more for his leg-spin wizardry, surprised everyone with a brisk 19 off just 10 deliveries, including three towering sixes, to propel Afghanistan to a modest total of 115/5.

Bangladesh, needing a win to keep their semi-final hopes alive, started their chase with intent. However, the Afghan bowling attack, led by the fiery pace of Naveen-ul-Haq (4/26) and the guile of Rashid Khan (4/23), proved too potent. Rain played its part throughout the match, causing three stoppages and forcing a revised target of 114 runs in 19 overs through the Duckworth-Lewis method.

Despite the revised target, Bangladesh’s batting faltered. Liton Das and Shakib Al Hasan, their batting mainstays, fell cheaply, putting the chase on a precarious footing. The middle order tried to stitch together partnerships, but wickets continued to tumble at regular intervals. The pressure of the required run rate mounted, and Bangladesh’s chase unravelled.

Threatening rain did not stop Afhganistan

With rain threatening again, the match reached a tense climax in the 18th over. Bangladesh needed 16 runs from 9 balls, but Rashid Khan, bowling with exceptional control, dismissed Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah Riyad in quick succession, effectively extinguishing Bangladesh’s hopes. The final Afghan wicket fell in the next over, and Bangladesh was bowled out for 105 runs.

The Celebration

The celebrations in the Afghan camp were ecstatic. This victory marked a historic moment for Afghan cricket, etching their name in the T20 World Cup semi-finals for the first time ever. Captain Rashid Khan, instrumental with both bat and ball, was awarded the Player of the Match.

However, the ramifications of this match extended far beyond Afghanistan. Bangladesh’s defeat effectively ended their tournament run, leaving them winless in the Super 8 stage.

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