Afghanistan won seven wickets over PNG.
In the current T20 World Cup 2024, Afghanistan defeated Papua New Guinea on Friday at the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba, Trinidad, by a margin of seven wickets.
In addition to advancing Afghanistan to the Super 8, the victory eliminated New Zealand from the T20 World Cup.
Afghanistan, needing just 95 runs to win, took 15.1 overs and three wickets to reach home.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (7) and Ibrahim Zadran (0), the openers, were out of the game early, but Gulbadin Naib carried his side over the finish line with an undefeated 49 runs in 36 balls, courtesy of four fours and two sixes.
Afghanistan had earlier bowled Afghanistan out for only 95 runs in 19.5 overs thanks to a masterful showing.
PNG’s hopes of scoring a competitive score were seriously damaged as they swiftly fell to 17-4 in the fourth over of the innings.
With 27 runs in 32 balls, Kiplin Doriga, the wicketkeeper-batter, had the best score for PNG.
Afghanistan’s top bowler once again was pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi, who amassed remarkable figures of 3-16 in four overs.
“We have officially qualified for the Super 8 and I would like to congratulate the entire squad on this accomplishment. Farooqi, who won Player of the Match, remarked, “I feel proud.”
“Before the warm-up match, I was in the IPL. I did not get any chances there unfortunately. I played just one warm-up game. I know how to carry my body and I just tried to keep it simple. I try to get some wickets if there is some movement or swing. If there is nothing, then I try to go to plan B, not go for boundaries and keep it simple. We have to give our 100% and we will try our best to do it in the last match as well,” he added.
Afghanistan and the West Indies are the two teams that will be going through from Group C into the Super 8. PNG and New Zealand are now out of the tournament.
Groups:
Tony Ura, Assad Vala (c), Lega Siaka, Sese Bau, Hiri Hiri, Chad Soper, Kiplin Doriga (w), Norman Vanua, Alei Nao, John Kariko, and Semo Kamea are the members of Papua New Guinea’s playing eleven.
Afghanistan (Starting XI): Karim Janat, Rashid Khan (c), Mohammad Nabi, Najibullah Zadran, Ibrahim Zadran, Gulbadin Naib, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Noor Ahmad, and Naveen-ul-Haq.
