Afghanistan Creates History Reaches Maiden T20 World Cup Semi-Final, Australia and Bangladesh Knocked out

The T20 World Cup has reached its business end of the tournament with the semi-final spots now booked officially, with South Africa, England, India, and Afghanistan qualifying for the semis.

This is the first time in a recent while that two Asian sides have made it to the semi-finals of an ICC event. In the last few years, India was the only Asian side to have consistently made it into the Semi-Finals.

Super 8 Game 52 Recap

1st Innings

Coming to the game, Afghanistan won a crucial toss on a slow St. Vincent deck. The Afghani openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran started with a bang once again as they added another 50-run partnership. Once the stand was broken Bangladesh applied the squeeze on the Afghanistan batters.

From being 58-0 in 10 overs they slumped to 93-5 in 16 overs. In the end, Afghanistan just managed 115 on the board after the end of 20 overs.

Experienced pro Shakib Al Hasan conceded less run-a-ball (0-19) in 4 overs, but the star of the bowling for Bangladesh was Rishad Hossain picking up 3 wickets for 26 runs in 4 overs quota. Taskin Ahmed on his comeback was impressive as he picked scalp and leaked just 12 runs in his quota of 4 overs. (1-12) in 4 overs.

2nd Innings

There was a rain delay right after the end of the first innings, but it was not big enough to hamper the game.

Coming to the chase, Bangladesh started in the worst possible way losing 3 wickets in the powerplay for 46 runs. At one stage they were reduced to 23-3 at the end of the 3rd over.

Just when the perceptions were made that Bangladesh would chase it easily, another collapse was triggered. They lost Soumya Sarkar right after the end of Powerplay, reduced to 48-4.

There were a couple of brief partnerships between Litton Das and Towhid Hridoy before Hridoy fell when the score was 64. Mahmudullah joined hands with the keeper-batter adding 16 runs for the 6th wicket.

But once again quick wickets followed as skipper Rashid Khan returned to the bowling crease. Khan struck gold immediately striking twice in two balls nipping out Mahmudullah and Rishad Hossain to leave Bangladesh reeling at 80-7 in 11 overs.

A short rain delay followed in the next over, this delay ensured that the game was reduced to 19 overs and Bangladesh needed 114 now to chase. For them to qualify for the Semi-Finals they needed to chase this 12.2 overs.

Litton Das played a lone hand as the remaining 3 Bangladeshi wickets couldn't last long eventually getting bowled out in the last over for 105.

With this win, Afghanistan reached its maiden semi-finals of the ICC T20 World Cup. In the process, they knocked out Australia and Bangladesh. Avenging their losses against the very same sides in the 2023 ODI World Cup.

Brief Scores:

Afghanistan 115/5 in 20 overs (Rahmanullah Gurbaz 43; Rishad Hossain 3-26) beat Bangladesh 105 in 17.5 overs (Litton Das 54*; Rashid Khan 4-23, Naveen Ul Haq 4-26) by 8 runs (DLS Method)

What next?

Bangladesh goes back home, as does Australia. Afghanistan head to Trinidad where they face South Africa in the first semifinal.