Afghanistan has made history by reaching the semi-finals of a World Cup for the first time, securing their spot with a thrilling eight-run victory over Bangladesh in a low-scoring encounter in St Vincent. This win ensured their progression as runners-up from Super 8s Group 1, simultaneously eliminating both Bangladesh and the formidable Australian team from the tournament.
This victory sets up a semi-final clash against South Africa in Trinidad on Thursday. A win in this match would advance Afghanistan to the final, where they would face either defending T20 champions England or India on Saturday. Despite their struggles with the bat, managing to post a modest 115-5, Afghanistan's bowlers delivered under pressure.
The rain-affected chase saw momentum swing between the teams, with Australia also briefly appearing to benefit from the contest. Ultimately, it was Afghanistan's captain Rashid Khan and Naveen-ul-Haq who shone, each taking four wickets to secure the memorable victory. Bangladesh, who were also aiming for their first World Cup semi-final, needed a significant win to improve their net run-rate (NRR) but fell short despite an impressive start.
Bangladesh's revised target of 114 off 19 overs required them to achieve the runs in 12.1 overs to boost their NRR. Opener Litton Das, who scored 54 not out, led the innings, but the team faltered with the loss of key wickets, including Shakib al Hasan and captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, to Naveen in quick succession. In a tense finish, Naveen claimed the last two wickets around a brief rain interruption, sparking jubilant celebrations for Afghanistan.
ADD A COMMENT :