The Brian Lara Stadium in Trinidad witnessed a dominant display by Afghanistan on Friday, June 14th, 2024, as they secured a convincing seven-wicket victory against Papua New Guinea in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. This win not only propelled Afghanistan into the coveted Super 8 stage of the tournament but also surprisingly knocked out New Zealand from contention.
Afghanistan Elects to Bowl First
Afghanistan captain Mohammad Nabi opted to field first after winning the toss, a decision that proved to be strategically sound. Their bowling attack, spearheaded by the pace duo of Naveen-ul-Haq and Fazalhaq Farooqi, applied early pressure on the PNG batsmen. Openers Tony Ura and Assad Vala struggled to find scoring opportunities, and wickets fell at regular intervals.
Kiplin Doriga, the experienced campaigner for Papua New Guinea, offered some resistance with a gritty 26 runs, but the lack of partnerships and consistent pressure from the Afghan bowlers restricted PNG to a meagre total of 95 runs in 19.5 overs. Fazalhaq Farooqi, the world-renowned pacer, showcased his mastery with three wickets, while Naveen-ul-haq gets two wickets and Noor Ahmed chipped in with a wicket.
Clinical Batting Display by Afghanistan
Chasing a modest target, Afghanistan openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Hazratullah Zazai started cautiously. However, they gradually upped the ante, finding boundaries at regular intervals. After losing Gurbaz for 11, the experienced campaigner Ibrahim Zadran got out without scoring.
Gulbadin Naib and Azmatullah Omarzai Seal the Victory
Azmatullah Omarzai played a composed knock of 13 runs, while Gulbadin Naib provided a late flourish with an unbeaten49 runs, laced with two sixes. Afghanistan chased down the target comfortably in just 15.1 overs, with seven wickets remaining. This dominant victory showcased their batting depth and ability to chase down totals of any kind.
Afghanistan’s victory has significant implications for the T20 World Cup. Their qualification for the Super 8 stage throws the group wide open, while New Zealand’s unexpected exit creates an opportunity for other teams. This match also highlights the growing strength of Associate nations like Papua New Guinea, who despite the loss, displayed commendable fighting spirit.
