Afghanistan reached their first World Cup semi-final with a dramatic eight-point win over Bangladesh, which knocked Australia out of the T20 tournament.
Bangladesh entered the match with a chance to advance or take Australia with a victory but, chasing a revised Duckworth-Lewis-Stern target of 114 in 19 overs when rain affected their innings, they were bowled out for 105.
Captain Rashid Khan (4-23) and Naveen-ul-Haq (4-26) won 4 wickets in the victory that secures Afghanistan’s first historic World Cup semi-final against South Africa in Trinidad on Wednesday night.
Afghanistan’s hopes took a hit in the past when they were limited to a modest 115-5 batting run, with Rahmanullah Gurbaz leading the scorer, but with 55 deliveries to triumph in 43.
Rishad Hossain (3-26) still ruled out Game 1. Afghanistan suffered a dramatic collapse from 84-1 to 93-5 in the 11-ball box, before Rashid then made 3 sixes on his 19-10 balls.
In the final, the Afghan captain was so desperate for late runs that he threw his bat at his batting partner Karim Janat in fury when he was denied a second innings.
Having had to chase their target with 12. 1 overs to seal a semi-final position, Bangladesh failed in their rain-affected response.
Litton Das shot an unbeaten 54 of 49, but the grounds fell to the other end, adding two of two balls for Rashid on Day 11 that left the Tigers 80-7.
Naveen then wrapped up the innings and victory in the semi-final with a double strike of his own off consecutive deliveries in the penultimate over, sparking tearful celebrations from the Afghan players.
India, who beat Australia in 24 races on Monday in St. Lucia to leave the 2021 champions’ qualification hopes in a balance, will face holders England in the second semi-final.
Afghanistan will face South Africa in the first semi-final in Trinidad (Thursday, 1. 30am, UK/Ireland), with the Proteas topping Group 2 from England’s Super 8s lead.
India took the top spot in Group 1 and therefore set the date for Thursday against England in Guyana (3:30pm).
There is no reserve day for the second semi-final between England and India (an additional 250 minutes will be available on the scheduled day), so if the match cannot be completed due to weather, India will advance to the second semi-final.
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