Afghanistan maintain World Cup semi-final hopes alive

Afghanistan stored their hopes of qualifying for the World Cup semi-finals alive after beating the Netherlands by seven wickets in a low-scoring group sport on Friday.

The Asian facet climbed to fifth within the standings with eight factors, behind New Zealand on web run price. The prime 4 groups advance to the semi-finals.

Afghanistan had received just one sport in two earlier World Cups, however they now have 4 wins within the match in India having additionally overwhelmed defending champions England, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

“Of course we are 100% trying our best to make the semi-finals. If that happens that will be a big achievement for our country,” Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi stated after main the run-chase with an unbeaten fifty.

“I misplaced my mom three months in the past, so my household is in ache. That could be an enormous achievement, initially to our nation after which to my household additionally.

“Right now a lot of refugees are struggling. We are with them in this tough time, I dedicate this win to refugees who are in pain.”

Chasing 180 for victory, Afghanistan had been 55-2 however Rahmat Shah scored a breezy 52 off 54 balls to set the platform for a cushty chase.

Shahidi then made 56 to information Afghanistan residence within the thirty second over, smashing the successful runs along with his sixth boundary.

Earlier, the Netherlands received the toss and opted to bat first however Mujeeb Ur Rahman struck within the first over when he trapped opener Wesley Barresi lbw to say his a hundredth ODI wicket.

Shahidi had praised Afghanistan’s batting and bowling within the victory, but it surely was their fielding which restricted the Dutch to a low complete as the following 4 batters had been all run out after mix-ups.

Max O’Dowd (42) regarded set for an enormous rating with 9 fours however was run out by superb work within the deep from Azmatullah Omarzai, who shattered the stumps with a direct hit because the opener’s dive was in useless.

Captain Scott Edwards — prime scorer for the Dutch on the match — was run out first ball by Afghan keeper Ikram Alikhil when he performed a shot and stepped out of the crease not figuring out the place the ball was.

“Definitely not ideal, four run outs in our top five is hard to come back from. I thought we started well and set ourselves up for a big total but gave it away,” Edwards stated.

“(We thought) 280 would have been a good score. We’ve done well batting first, we’ve been good defending scores.”

Sybrand Engelbrecht was the lone center order batter to offer resistance with a affected person 58 however the Dutch had been all out for 179 within the forty seventh over, with Alikhil concerned in six dismissals and Mohammad Nabi picked up three wickets.

Afghanistan subsequent play Australia and South Africa. The Netherlands, who’re eighth, play England and hosts India.