T20 World Cup: Afghanistan move into Super 8 round as NZ eliminated
Cricket
Papua New Guinea, who were asked to bat first were all out for 95 runs in 19.5 overs.
TAROUBA (Web Desk) – Afghanistan defeated Papua New Guinea by seven wickets to move into the next round of the T20 World Cup at the Brian Lara Stadium here on Friday.
Afghanistan have moved to the top of the Group C standings with NRR +4.140 along with the co-host West Indies whose NRR is +2.596 securing six points from three games each. The victory has eliminated New Zealand, Uganda and Papua New Guinea from the competition.
The West Indies and Afghanistan will face off on June 18 in a game which will determine who will top the group.
POINTS TABLE
.jpg)
Earlier, Papua New Guinea (PNG) were dismissed for 95 runs in 19.5 overs in the 29th match of the T20 World Cup.
Afghanistan won the toss and decided to bowl first.
Afghanistan have had a dream start to their T20 World Cup 2024 campaign. Having brushed past Uganda in the opening fixture, they dealt a killer blow to New Zealand and are comfortably placed to make the Super Eight.
In the previous edition in 2022, Afghanistan were part of Super 12 but couldn't register a single win, losing three games and the other two being washed out.
Much of their success so far this year has been down to their openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran. They added 154 against Uganda and 103 against New Zealand, with Gurbaz hitting fifties in both games. The flip side is that the middle order has not had enough time in the middle. It could hurt them as it almost did when they lost 6 for 55 after their opening stand against New Zealand.
It could well be their achilles heel against nearly-men PNG. They are yet to win a match but defending 136 in their opening game, they had West Indies in a spot of bother. In their next outing, they made Uganda work hard for a target of 78.
The sluggish conditions in Tarouba could level the playing field, even though Afghanistan have the skills suited for those. PNG's plethora of medium-pacers and spinners would want to leave a mark at the Brian Lara Stadium. And the team will have a whole bunch of New Zealand fans cheering for them, as their hopes of making the Super Eight hinge on, among other things, PNG beating Afghanistan.
Squads:
Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Najibullah Zadran, Karim Janat, Rashid Khan (c), Noor Ahmad, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi
Papua New Guinea: Assad Vala (c), Tony Ura, Sese Bau, Lega Siaka, Hiri Hiri, Kiplin Doriga (wk), Chad Soper, Norman Vanua, Alei Nao, John Kariko, Semo Kamea
