Afghanistan beat Bangladesh to enter semi-finals

Afghanistan, after setting a modest whole of 115 for 5 of their innings, defended their rating valiantly on a difficult pitch. Captain Rashid Khan performed a pivotal position, taking 4 wickets for 23 runs to dismantle Bangladesh’s batting lineup. Regardless of a robust effort from Litton Das, who scored an unbeaten 54, Bangladesh fell in need of the revised goal of 114 runs from 19 overs, managing solely 105 runs earlier than being dismissed in 17.5 overs.

The decisive second got here within the penultimate over when Afghan pacer Naveen-ul-Haq claimed the final two wickets of Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman off consecutive deliveries. This breakthrough sealed Afghanistan’s victory and sparked celebrations among the many Afghan staff.

With this win, Afghanistan secured their spot within the semi-finals, the place they’ll face South Africa in Trinidad. The outcome additionally had implications for Australia and Bangladesh, because it eradicated each groups from advancing additional within the match.

In the meantime, in one other match essential for the standings, India’s win over Australia confirmed India’s place within the second semi-final in opposition to England in Guyana. This final result solidified Afghanistan’s place because the second staff from Group 1 to progress to the semi-finals, establishing an thrilling conflict in opposition to South Africa.

Rashid Khan Afghanistan captain: It is one thing like a dream for us as a staff being within the semifinal. It is all about the best way now we have began the match. The assumption got here whereas we beat New Zealand. It is unbelievable, I haven’t got any phrases to explain my emotions. Again residence, everyone seems to be so joyful for this massive achievement. The one man who put us within the semifinal was Brian Lara and we proved that proper. Earlier than the competitors on the welcome celebration, I advised him, ‘We cannot allow you to down. We’ll make it by means of and show you are proper.’ I’m happy with this staff. We thought 130-135 was a great whole on this wicket. We have been 15-20 runs brief. It was all concerning the mindset. We knew they’d come onerous at us to chase that in 12 overs to get into the semifinal. That is the place we might take benefit. If we bowled into the stumps, we had a greater probability to getting them out. We did not should do something further. We simply needed to be clear with our plans. We put within the effort, that is in our palms. Rain, outcome isn’t in our palms. That 100% effort is at all times in our palms. Everybody did a beautiful job. In T20s, now we have a robust base, particularly in bowling. The standard of quick bowling now we have received, it is not as quick however they’re extra skillful. In T20s, when you have abilities, you might be more practical. They’ve given nice begins on this World Cup competitors thus far and it turns into straightforward for us (spinners) within the center the place we are able to go onerous on the batsmen. So joyful the best way they’ve delivered. They have been very clear with their thoughts, that is very pleasing. Rain was on and off, however mentally we have been at all times there. We needed to play 20 overs and we needed to take 10 wickets, that is the one approach to get to the semifinal, there is not any different manner. Gulbadin had some cramps I believe, hopefully he’ll be alright. That wicket he took was large for us. It is a large celebration again residence now. It is a massive achievement for us. We now have accomplished that within the Underneath-19 stage, being within the semifinal. However on this World Cup … I haven’t got any phrases methods to describe the sensation. The nation can be very proud. I’m so joyful the best way now we have delivered as a staff. We took the accountability. Being within the semis is massive, now now we have to go along with a transparent thoughts. We’ll should maintain issues easy and ensure we benefit from the massive event.

Najmul Hossain Shanto Bangladesh captain: I believe we bowled rather well, we did a number of good issues however as a batting unit, we made poor determination particularly within the center overs and that is what value us as we speak. The plan was to go onerous within the first six overs, if we misplaced early wickets, the plan was to bat usually, however that did not occur and the middle-order could not execute. The entire match now we have bowled rather well, each the pacers and the spinners, particularly Rishad was nice, the quick bowlers additionally did rather well. Additionally, as a fielding group, we did nicely. The batting wants to enhance, our top-order did not carry out nicely. It could actually occur, the ball received moist and that is a great factor. As I mentioned, we did not execute nicely with the bat and made a whole lot of incorrect choices.