Afghanistan beat Bangladesh to enter semi-finals

Afghanistan, after setting a modest total of 115 for five of their innings, defended their rating valiantly on a difficult pitch. Captain Rashid Khan performed a pivotal function, 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 wanting 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 workforce.

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

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 workforce from Group 1 to progress to the semi-finals, organising an thrilling conflict in opposition to South Africa.

Rashid Khan Afghanistan captain: It is one thing like a dream for us as a workforce being within the semifinal. It is all about the best way we’ve began the event. 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 comfortable 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 occasion, I advised him, ‘We cannot allow you to down. We’ll make it by and show you are proper.’ I’m pleased with this workforce. We thought 130-135 was a great complete on this wicket. We have been 15-20 runs brief. It was all concerning the mindset. We knew they might come laborious at us to chase that in 12 overs to get into the semifinal. That is the place we may take benefit. If we bowled into the stumps, we had a greater likelihood to getting them out. We did not should do something additional. We simply needed to be clear with our plans. We put within the effort, that is in our fingers. Rain, end result will not be in our fingers. That 100% effort is at all times in our fingers. Everybody did an exquisite job. In T20s, we’ve a robust base, particularly in bowling. The standard of quick bowling we’ve obtained, it isn’t as quick however they’re extra skillful. In T20s, you probably have expertise, you might be simpler. They’ve given nice begins on this World Cup competitors to date and it turns into straightforward for us (spinners) within the center the place we will go laborious on the batsmen. So comfortable 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 technique to get to the semifinal, there is not any different means. Gulbadin had some cramps I feel, hopefully he’ll be alright. That wicket he took was huge for us. It is a huge celebration again residence now. It is a massive achievement for us. We’ve executed that within the Below-19 degree, being within the semifinal. However on this World Cup … I haven’t got any phrases how you can describe the sensation. The nation will probably be very proud. I’m so comfortable the best way we’ve delivered as a workforce. We took the duty. Being within the semis is massive, now we’ve to go along with a transparent thoughts. We’ll should preserve issues easy and ensure we benefit from the massive event.

Najmul Hossain Shanto Bangladesh captain: I feel we bowled very well, we did a lot of good issues however as a batting unit, we made poor resolution particularly within the center overs and that is what value us as we speak. The plan was to go laborious 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 event we’ve bowled very well, each the pacers and the spinners, particularly Rishad was nice, the quick bowlers additionally did very well. Additionally, as a fielding group, we did nicely. The batting wants to enhance, our top-order did not carry out nicely. It will probably occur, the ball obtained moist and that is a great factor. As I mentioned, we did not execute nicely with the bat and made a variety of flawed selections.