Picture : Afghanistan Cricket Board/X
Giant killers Afghanistan kept their hopes of qualifying for the World Cup semi-finals alive after beating the Netherlands by seven wickets in a low-scoring group encounter in Lucknow .It was their fourth win in CWC23 after – upsetting – defending champions England, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Netherlands won the toss and chose to bat first . They began positively too . Reaching 66/ 1 in 10 overs . After losing opener Wesley Barresi for ( 1) . Four Dutch batsmen were run-out swing the match the Afghanistan way . Max ODowd ( 42), Colin Ackermann ( 29), Sybrand Engelbrecht ( 58 ), Even Skipper Scott Edwards ( 0). The rest of the batting did not have nothing to write much about as the team was bowled out for 179 in 46. 3 overs
Afghan Bowling was spot on backed by energetic fielding . Mujeeb Ur Rahman 1/ 40 ( 10 overs), Fazalhaq Farooqi 0/ 36 ( 5 overs), Azmatullah Omarzai 0/ 11 ( 3 overs), Mohammad Nabi 3/ 28 ( 9. 3 overs), Rashid Khan 0/ 31 ( 10 ) , Noor Ahmad 2/ 31 ( 9 overs)
In reply Afghanistan were in total control in the chase . Rahmanullah Gurbaz fell for ( 10) , Ibrahim Zadran ( 20). Rahmat Shah steadied the innings with a fine 52 ( 54 balls, 8 fours). Afghan Skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi led form the front and remained unbeaten with 56 ( 54 balls, 6 fours) , Azmatullah Omarzai remained not 31 ( 28 balls , Fours). The duo guided Afghanistan home by seven wickets. Afghanistan reaching 181/3 in 31. 3 overs
Dutch bowlers did not have the target to defend . Aryan Dutt 0/ 49 ( 8.3 overs), Logan van Beek 1/ 30 ( 7 overs), Paul van Meekeren 0/ 35 ( 5 overs), Roelof van der Merwe 1/ 27 ( 5 overs), Saqib Zulfiqar 1/ 25 ( 3 overs), Colin Ackermann 0/ 12 ( 2 overs)
Match: World Cup 2023, 34th Match
Venue: Lucknow | Date: November 03, 2023
