Afghanistan, captained by Rashid Khan, defeated Papua New Guinea by seven wickets at the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba, Trinidad, to advance to the Multi-Nation Tournament’s Super 8.
Afghanistan has advanced to the T20 World Cup 2024 Super 8 round. At Tarouba, Trinidad’s Brian Lara Stadium on Friday, June 14, Rashid Khan’s team defeated Papua New Guinea by a score of seven wickets. The Afghans made it into the Super 10s back in 2016. They then advanced to the Super 12s in 2021 and 2022, however this is the first time in the tournament’s history that they will be among the top 8 teams.In addition to regaining their top spot in Group C’s points standings, Rashid and Co. defeated PNG. While this was going on, New Zealand was eliminated from the competition due to their persistently low net run rate of -2.425, which saw them finish last in the table. The Afghanistan team defeated the Black Caps and then went on to defeat Assad Vala’s PNG after crushing Uganda by 125 runs.
Afghanistan, who chose to field first, reduced their opponents to 30 for 5 on the powerplay and eventually got PNG on the mat. Sese Bau and Alei Nao were defeated by Fazalhaq Farooqi, who is now leading the league in wickets taken this season. He also scored a wicket against Lega Siaka. His stats of 4-0-16-3 made him the best bowler in Afghanistan.
Gulbadin Naib and Azmatullah Omarzai then restored order with a 33-run third-wicket stand. After getting rid of Omarzai, Norman Vanua separated the two. However, Gulbadin remained unbeaten on 49 as Afghanistan won with 29 overs to spare.
Afghanistan’s last Group encounter will be against Rovman Powell’s West Indies on Monday, June 17 at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in Gros Islet, St Lucia.