Afghanistan reach Super 8s and eliminate NZ by beating PNG

T20 World Cup, Group C, Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad

Papua New Guinea 95 (19.5 overs): Doriga 27 (32); Farooqi 3-16

Afghanistan 101-3 (15.1 overs): Gulbadin 49* (36); Kamea 1-16

Afghanistan won by 7 wickets

Scorecard. Table

Afghanistan are done to nan T20 World Cup Super 8s aft beating Papua New Guinea by 7 wickets successful Trinidad, eliminating New Zealand successful nan process.

After bowling retired Papua New Guinea for 95, Afghanistan were made to activity early successful nan pursuit but Gulbadin Naib's unbeaten 49 sewage them complete nan line.

Gulbadin was nan only batter to really find immoderate hit connected a tricky aboveground astatine nan Brian Lara Cricket Academy, hitting 4 fours and 2 sixes successful his 36-ball knock.

Seamers Fazalhaq Farooqi (3-16) and Naveen-ul-Haq (2-4) did nan harm for Afghanistan arsenic 3 wickets successful 4 balls near Papua New Guinea reeling astatine 12-3 early successful nan 3rd over.

The Barramundis did not thief themselves pinch 4 run-outs successful nan innings but having been 50-7, wicketkeeper Kiplin Doriga made 27 to somewhat amended nan situation.

Conditions prevented Afghanistan from reaching their target arsenic quickly arsenic they mightiness person wanted but Gulbadin vanished it successful style, smashing a six to complete a 3rd consecutive triumph for Rashid Khan's broadside pinch 29 balls to spare.

The consequence besides confirms that New Zealand, who person reached nan semi-finals successful each of nan past 3 T20 tournaments and were beaten finalists successful 2021, will not advancement from Group C.

Kane Williamson's broadside were thrashed by Afghanistan successful their opening crippled past lost to West Indies successful their 2nd lucifer meaning nan Black Caps will exit a World Cup earlier nan past 4 for nan first clip since 2014.

After proving themselves to beryllium existent contenders successful their first 2 games, Afghanistan quickly took power aft choosing to vessel first.

Papua New Guinea had made a reasonable commencement but that each changed pinch nan run-out of skipper Assad Vala successful nan 2nd over, attempting to get backmost for a 3rd run.

Farooqi past took 2 wickets successful 2 balls to commencement nan 3rd over, uncovering first nan extracurricular separator past nan wrong to disregard Lega Siaka and Sese Bau, and Afghanistan were away.

Naveen castled Hiri Hiri pinch his first shot and past knocked complete opener Tony Ura to time off Papua New Guinea 5 down earlier nan extremity of nan powerplay.

Doriga and Alei Nao put connected 38 later successful nan innings to resistance their broadside towards 3 figures but moreover connected a challenging surface, 95 was ne'er going to overly problem Afghanistan.

They did suffer an early scare successful nan chase, falling to 22-2 successful nan 3rd over, but soon moved past that pinch Gulbadin starring them to triumph arsenic he shared an unbroken guidelines of 46 pinch Mohammad Nabi.

Afghanistan move backmost to nan apical of Group C, up of co-hosts West Indies connected nett run-rate, and apical spot will beryllium decided erstwhile nan sides meet successful St Lucia connected Tuesday.

Afghanistan skipper Rashid Khan: "Feeling awesome to suffice for nan adjacent round. It's been a awesome effort from nan boys from crippled 1 and astir importantly we person adjusted to nan conditions very quickly. That is very pleasing to me.

"Someone for illustration Fazalhaq [Farooqi] who is attacking each shot gives america a awesome guidelines arsenic a bowling unit. It helps america successful nan mediate overs if you get a mates of early wickets. Even if nan batter is attacking you, you person to onslaught arsenic well."

Papua New Guinea skipper Assad Vala: "They're a really bully broadside and we gave them 4 wickets pinch run-outs. My run-out particularly was a spot lazy and put nan adjacent 2 batsmen successful to look nan in-form bowler.

"[Batting] has been challenging, not conscionable for america but each squad successful nan Caribbean. We said astir trying to springiness ourselves a chance, walk immoderate clip successful nan mediate and past motorboat later but unluckily we couldn't execute."