The 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup witnessed a historic moment on Tuesday as Afghanistan edged past Bangladesh in a rain-affected thriller to secure their first-ever berth in the semi-finals. The Afghanistan vs Bangladesh match at the Arnos Vale Stadium in Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, was a nail-biting encounter that went down to the wire.
Afghanistan Posts Modest Total Despite Bowling Prowess
Bangladesh’s decision to put Afghanistan in to bat seemed like a good one early on. The Afghan openers, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran, found scoring difficult on a pitch that offered good bounce and seam movement. The Bangladeshi pace attack, spearheaded by the lively Rishad Hossain and the experienced Taskin Ahmed , kept things tight, asking questions with every delivery. The Afghan batsmen, known for their aggressive strokeplay, were forced to curb their instincts and focus on building partnerships.
Wickets fell at regular intervals throughout the Afghan innings. Zadran (18) was the first to depart, edging a delivery from Rishad Hossain behind the stumps. Omarzai (10) followed soon after, trapped by Mustafizur Rahman. The middle order, comprising Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, and Karim Jannat, all got starts but failed to convert them into substantial scores. The pressure of the big occasion and the disciplined bowling from Bangladesh kept them in check.
However, just when it seemed like Bangladesh would restrict Afghanistan to a very low total, captain Rashid Khan provided a much-needed late flourish. Promoted up the order in a desperate attempt to accelerate the scoring rate, Khan took the Bangladeshi bowlers to the cleaners. He smashed three towering sixes and a couple of boundaries in his quickfire 19 off just 10 balls, infusing some much-needed momentum into the Afghan innings. This cameo knock by Rashid Khan proved crucial, helping his side reach a defendable total of 115 for 5 in their allotted 20 overs.
Bangladesh’s Chase Falters Under Pressure
Chasing a revised target of 114 runs in 19 overs due to rain interruptions, Bangladesh’s innings mirrored Afghanistan’s struggles. Naveen-ul-Haq, the eventual Player of the Match, struck early blows, dismissing captain Najmul Hossain Shanto and Shakib Al Hasan in quick succession. The experienced Liton Das tried to steady the ship, but wickets continued to tumble at regular intervals on the other end.
The introduction of spin wizard Rashid Khan proved decisive. He weaved his magic, picking up four crucial wickets for just 23 runs in his four overs. Bangladesh’s lower order showed some fight, but they eventually fell short, bowled out for 105 runs in 17.5 overs.
A Night of Afghan Celebrations
The Afghanistan vs Bangladesh match sparked jubilation in the Afghan camp. Captain Rashid Khan hailed his team’s fighting spirit and dedication, calling it a “historic moment” for Afghan cricket. This victory not only propels Afghanistan into the T20 World Cup semi-finals for the first time but also knocks out former champions Australia from the tournament.
For Bangladesh, the defeat was a bitter pill to swallow. They had a decent chance of reaching the semi-finals themselves, but their batting faltered under pressure. The loss also marked the end of their T20 World Cup campaign.
