T20 World Cup: Afghanistan beat Bangladesh to reach semi-final and eliminate Australia | Cricket News
Afghanistan reached their first World Cup semi-final thanks to a dramatic eight-run victory over Bangladesh, which in turn eliminated Australia from the T20 tournament.
Bangladesh came into the game with a chance to progress or send Australia out with a win, but – chasing a revised Duckworth-Lewis-Stern target of 114 in 19 overs as rain affected their innings – were bowled out for 105.
Captain Rashid Khan (4-23) and Naveen-ul-Haq (4-26) took four wickets each in the victory that secured Afghanistan a historic first World Cup semi-final against South Africa in Trinidad on the night of Wednesday.
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Highlights from the T20 World Cup Group 1 match as Afghanistan defeated Bangladesh to reach their first semi-final where they will face South Africa.
Afghanistan’s hopes were dented earlier when restricted to a modest 115-5 batting first, Rahmanullah Gurbaz top-scored but used 55 deliveries to reach 43.
Rishad Hossain (3-26) ended up rejecting the first goal. Afghanistan suffered a dramatic collapse from 84-1 to 93-5 in the space of 11 balls before Rashid hit three sixes in his 10-ball 19.
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During the tense T20 World Cup match, Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan lost his cool and threw the bat at his partner Karim Janat after a miscommunication during a second match against Bangladesh
In the final, the Afghanistan captain was so desperate for late runs that he threw the bat at his batting partner Karim Janat in anger when he refused a second run.
Group 2 final standings in T20 World Cup Super 8s as India, Afghanistan advance to semi-finals
Needing to chase down their target in 12.1 overs to secure a place in the semi-finals, Bangladesh fell short in the rain-affected response.
Litton Das scored an unbeaten 54 off 49, but wickets fell regularly at the other end, including two in two balls to Rashid in the 11th over, which reduced the Tigers to 80-7.
Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan (left) and Gulbadin Naib celebrate after booking their place in the T20 World Cup semi-final
Naveen then capped off the innings and decisive semi-final victory with his own double strike with consecutive deliveries in the penultimate over, prompting tearful celebrations from Afghanistan’s players.
India, who defeated Australia by 24 runs on Monday morning in Saint Lucia, leaving the 2021 champions’ qualification hopes hanging by a thread, will face champions England in the second semi-final.
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Highlights from Saint Lucia as Rohit Sharma’s 41-ball 92 led India to victory over Australia and the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup
What is the next?
Afghanistan face South Africa in the first semi-final in Trinidad (Thursday, 1.30am UK & Ireland), with the Proteas topping Super 8 Group 2 ahead of England.
India came first in Group 1 and, as a result, arranged a meeting on Thursday with England in Guyana (3:30 p.m.).
There is no reserve day available for the second semi-final between England and India – although an extra 250 minutes are available on the scheduled day – so if the game cannot be completed due to weather, India will progress by virtue of topping their Super 8s group.
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