T20 WC 2024, Match 29, Afghanistan vs PNG: Fazalhaq Farooqi and Naveen-ul-Haq bowl PNG out for a below-par score - Cricket Winner

The 29th match of the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2024 is currently taking place between Afghanistan vs Papua New Guinea at Brian Lara Stadium, Tarouba in Trinidad on Jun 13, 08:30 PM local. Afghanistan won the toss and opted to bowl first. Fazalhaq Farooqi claimed three wickets and restricted the opponent to a below-par total.

Put into bat first, PNG had the worst possible start. Their openers Tony Ura and Assad Vala couldn’t do much as the latter got out for a mere 3 runs. However, Fazalhaq Farooqi came to bowl the third over and his double strike left PNG struggling in the middle. He removed Lega Siaka and Sese Bau on back-to-back deliveries and they were reduced to 17 for 3 after 3 overs.

Fazalhaq Farooqi steals the show with a 3-wicket haul

Neither Hiri Hiri nor Chad Soper could contribute much with the bat. However, Kiplin Doriga tried to steady the ship in the middle. And, he found support in Alei Nao. They added 38 runs before Kiplin Doriga got out for 27 off 32. Alei Nao also scored 13 off 19, but that was not enough to put up a decent score as they were all out for 95 in 19.5 overs.

SEE ALSO: Rohit Sharma urges US Police to go easy with the pitch invader during IND vs BAN warm-up match

Naveen-ul-Haq picks up 50 T20I wickets

Fazalhaq Farooqi claimed 3 wickets for 16 runs whereas Naveen-ul-Haq claimed 2 for 4 in his 2.5 overs as well. However, with this, Naveen-ul-Haq picked 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.

Naveen-ul-Haq said – “I am honoured to play for my country and then get to the landmark of 50 wickets. I wanted to keep it simple, there was a bit of movement, so I just pitched the ball up. We have bowlers who can swing and also spinners who can bowl with the new ball, that’s a good thing for us. Cricket is a funny game, but our batters are in good form and we’ll hopefully chase this score down.”