T20 WC 2024, Match 29: Afghanistan comfortably beat PNG by 7 wickets; qualify for Super 8 - Cricket Winner

The 29th match of the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2024 took place between Afghanistan vs Papua New Guinea at Brian Lara Stadium, Tarouba in Trinidad on Jun 13, 08:30 PM local. Afghanistan registered a comfortable win over PNG. Fazalhaq Farooqi claimed three wickets before Gulbadin Naib’s steady knock sealed the deal for Afghanistan. With this, they have qualified for the Super 8s.

Fazalhaq Farooqi steals the show with a 3-wicket haul

Afghanistan won the toss and opted to bowl first. Put into bat first, PNG had a poor start. Their openers Tony Ura and Assad Vala failed to provide a flying start as the latter got out for a mere 3 runs. Meanwhile, Fazalhaq Farooqi’s double strike left PNG struggling in the middle as well. He removed Lega Siaka and Sese Bau on consecutive deliveries and they were reduced to 17 for 3 after 3 overs as well.

However, Kiplin Doriga tried to build a partnership with Alei Nao. They added crucial 38 runs before Kiplin Doriga got out for 27 off 32. Alei Nao also managed 13 runs which came off 19 deliveries, but that was not enough to put up a modest total as they were all out for 95 in 19.5 overs.

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However, Fazalhaq Farooqi picked up 3 wickets for 16 runs whereas Naveen-ul-Haq scalped 2 for 4 in his 2.5 overs as well. With this, Naveen-ul-Haq claimed his 50th T20I wicket for Afghanistan. Also, this became the 9th time that a team got all-out totals of 100 or below in the Men’s T20 World Cup as well.

Gulbadin Naib scores a well-made 49*

While chasing, Ibrahim Zadran got out on a 7-ball duck. Meanwhile, in-form Rahmanullah Gurbaz also couldn’t contribute much as he got out for only 11 runs as well. However, Gulbadin Naib steadied the ship in the middle.

He first built the partnership with Azmatullah Omarzai who managed 13 runs and then with Mohammad Nabi who scored an unbeaten 16 off 23. However, Gulbadin Naib remained unbeaten till the end and scored 49 off 36 with 4 fours and 2 sixes as well, helping his side win convincingly in 15.1 overs and 7 wickets in hand. Notably, this is the biggest win-margin for Afghanistan in T20Is (by balls remaining).

However, West Indies and Afghanistan make it to the next round from Group C whereas New Zealand, who still have two matches left, are knocked out.

Player of the Match

Fazalhaq Farooqi said – “I want to congratulate people of Afghanistan for qualifying to the Super 8, I think we’ve played some good cricket. I was in the IPL, unfortunately I didn’t get a game, so I came here and gave myself the strength to come and perform. I have two plans while bowling – just get wickets if there’s any swing or seam, if there’s no movement, I just bowl in the right areas and keep it simple. We just need to give our 100% and do our best (in the Super 8).”