Afghanistan clinched their berth in the T20 World Cup semi-finals, overcoming Bangladesh by 8 runs as DLS intervened. This triumph, achieved in the final Super 8 match on Tuesday amidst high drama and rain, was underscored by Gurbaz’s steady 43 runs off 55 balls and Rashid Khan’s pivotal late contributions, helping Afghanistan amass a formidable 115 runs on a challenging St Vincent pitch.
Winning the toss, Rashid Khan (19/10) elected to bat. Gurbaz and Zadran formed a solid opening partnership, accumulating 59 runs. Bangladesh’s Rishad Hossain disrupted this momentum by dismissing Zadran in the 11th over. However, Gurbaz’s resilient innings (43/55) ensured Afghanistan posted a challenging total on the sluggish pitch.
Bangladesh’s batting lineup faltered early, losing three wickets in the first three overs. Rain interruptions added to their woes. Despite Liton Das’s valiant 54* off 49 balls, wickets tumbled around him, thwarting their chase. 
Afghanistan’s consistent performances signal their growing prowess, evidenced by consecutive victories despite rain disruptions. In contrast, Bangladesh exited the tournament winless in the Super 8 stage. Their bowlers impressed, but the batting unit consistently underperformed.
Key moments defining the match:
Gurbaz’s Composed Innings
Gurbaz’s mature batting anchored the innings. Despite losing partners, he maintained focus, building a crucial partnership and accelerating the score with deft shots and singles.
Rashid Khan’s Finishing Power
In the final overs, Rashid Khan’s aggressive batting added vital runs. His two sixes in the last over garnered 15 runs off Sakib, transforming a modest score into a competitive total.
Fazalhaq Farooqi’s Early Impact
Throughout the tournament, Farooqi’s powerplay performances were stellar. His immediate breakthrough, dismissing Tanzid Hasan, set the tone early for Afghanistan.
Rashid Khan’s Game-Changing Spell
Rashid Khan’s 4/23 in the middle overs was crucial. His consecutive wickets, including the dangerous Mahmudullah in the 11th over, tilted the match in Afghanistan’s favour.
Naveen-ul-Haq’s Decisive Over
Naveen-ul-Haq’s 4/26 was instrumental in sealing victory. His skillful variations, notably slower balls, proved crucial as he took two vital wickets in the death overs.
Afghanistan, now in the semi-finals after two impressive victories, will face South Africa at the Brian Lara Stadium in Trinidad on June 27. The Parimatch odds favor Afghanistan at 3.00x. Meanwhile, Bangladesh, after three consecutive Super 8 losses, are eliminated.
