Player of the Match
Player of the Match

1.40am What a game of cricket! A fittingly thrilling end to the Super Eight stage. And Afghanistan, who couldn't register a single win in the last edition of the T20 World Cup, now find themselves in the semi-finals of a World Cup for the first time, with Australia bowing out. You can read all about how this thriller went down in S Sudarshanan's report. There will be plenty more coverage from the match, and in the build-up to the semi-finals, so keep checking in. For now, on behalf of Madushka, Sudeep and everyone else at ESPNcricinfo, it's Abhimanyu signing off.

Rashid Khan: "It's a dream for us to be in the semi-finals. The way we started the tournament, the belief came when we beat New Zealand. It's unbelievable. The only guy who put us inthe semi-finals was Brian Lara and we proved him right. When we met him at a welcome party, I told him we won't let you down. We thought 130-135 was a good score but we fell 15 runs short. We knew they would come hard at us and we knew that is what we could take advantage of. We didn't need to do anything extra, just be clear in our plans. We wanted to make people back home happy, that was the discussion we had and everyone did a wonderful job. [On the new ball bowlers] In T20s if you get a good start, it helps us in the middle overs. They have given great starts to us in the whole competition. It makes it easier for us to go harder at the batsmen. They have delivered, they were very clear in their minds. [On the Gulbadin situation] Rain is something not in our hands but mentally we knew we have to play 20 overs and take 10 wickets. That's the only way we could win. But Gulbadin he had some cramps. But his wicket was invaluable to us. It's a massive celebration back home. It's a big achievement for us as well. We have done that at U-19 level but at this World Cup, I don't have any words to describe the feeling back home. We have to go into the semis with a very clear mind and make sure we enjoy the occasion." He signs off with a message in Pashto.

Najmul Hossain Shanto: "I think we bowled really well. As a bowling unit we did a lot of good things. But as a batting unit we made some poor decisions specially in the middle overs. Normal plan was first three wickets we go hard, especially in the first six overs, and if we lose early wickets we play normally. But we didn't execute that. Whole tournament we bowled really well, especially Rishad the new guy came and bowled really well, I am really happy for him. As a fielding team we did a lot of good things, took really good catches. As a batting unit we really need to improve a not. Going forward we need to think about our batting. [On the rain delays] It happened but we can't make excuses. Also with the ball getting wet it was coming on nicely so that was a good thing."

1.20am In 2009, Mohammad Nabi was playing in Buenos Aires in the ICC WCL Division 3. Today, he is headed for a World Cup semi-final! And he is part of an Afghanistan dance in the middle, and why shouldn't he be?!

What a match, what high drama. In the middle of this was, of course, Gulbadin Naib who went down with an apparent cramp when rain was coming on. But he was soon back on the field and bowling! Read all about it here.

So, who will Afghanistan face in their maiden World Cup semi-final? This is how the semi-finals look.

Kiruba: "As a South African fan, I am happy." Famous last words...?

Kishore : "How long since Aussies did not qualify for knock-out stage in an ICC Event?" Well, it's been a whole two years. They failed to make the semis in the 2022 T20 World Cup, so not all that long back!

Mohd Waji : "Why is Rashid not POTM?" That is a good question. His three sixes helped Afghanistan get a respectable total and then his spell in the middle really broke the game open. And that's why he is ESPNcricinfo's MVP!

Player of the match is Naveen-ul-Haq: "We have worked so hard over the past few years and we were dreaming and working for this day. I'm lost for words. [On his spell] We always knew that they were going hard in the powerplay to chase the total down in 12.1 overs so we knew we were in the game as long as we kept picking wickets. We had confidence that these wickets are not high-scoring wickets. As long as we don't give easy runs we knew we would have a chance."

Amey: "3 times Afganistan were on hat-trick. That shows how they have made comebacks regularly."

Ashish: "So one of SA or AFG will have a shot at first WC trophy, this is amazing and special for both of them."

1.10amGurbaz is in tears, there are hugs all over and Afghanistan are in a World Cup semi-final for the first time! What a thriller. Afghanistan would have felt they scored below par, and then got wickets, but Litton Das, who has carried his bat, kept Bangladesh well above the asking rate. Rashid Khan's magnificent burst in the middle overs then set Bangladesh back, while rain kept DLS scores in play with multiple delays. In the end, Litton kept losing partners and Afghanistan, despite a few dropped chances, seal a historic win! Rashid finishes with four, Naveen with another four-for after his spell against Australia. His two in the opening spell were key. There will be some broken Australian hearts as well, who are knocked out with this result.

Kiran: "So that inning from Gurbaz, slow as it was, was worth it's weight in gold. Same for the 19/10 by Rashid in the end. Potm for sure"

17.5
W
Naveen-ul-Haq to Mustafizur Rahman, OUT, He traps him and UP GOES THE FINGER! Afghanistan players race off in celebration, but Bangladesh have reviewed. It looked plumb. Was there an inside edge though? Nope, and that's red on all three! Length ball angles in from outside off and raps him right in front of middle. Afghanistan are through to the semis!

Mustafizur Rahman lbw b Naveen-ul-Haq 0 (1m 1b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00

Mustafizur is the new batter. Now new gloves are coming on for Litton. Rashid having a chat with the umpire. Remember, Afghanistan are ahead on DLS. And now we should be ready to go

The players go off briefly but the rain stops and they are coming back on again!

17.4
W
Naveen-ul-Haq to Taskin Ahmed, OUT, Naveen gets him! Taskin chops on! Prods at a full slower ball outside off and gets an inside edge! And that takes the DLS par score to 108! And the rain is coming down again!

Taskin Ahmed b Naveen-ul-Haq 2 (31m 9b 0x4 0x6) SR: 22.22

17.3
1
Naveen-ul-Haq to Litton Das, 1 run, Naveen puts him down! Full around off, punched back to the bowler, and it bursts through! Oh my!
17.2
1
Naveen-ul-Haq to Taskin Ahmed, 1 run, Back of length delivery, punched with an open face to deep third's left

It is drizzling again

17.1
1
Naveen-ul-Haq to Litton Das, 1 run, Slower length ball around off, cut away behind point

Naveen returns

END OF OVER:
17 | 4 Runs | BAN: 102/8 (12 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 6.00, RRR: 6.00)

  • Taskin Ahmed1 (7b)
  • Litton Das52 (47b)
  • Gulbadin Naib2-0-5-1
  • Noor Ahmad4-0-13-0

102 the par score. So it will be a tie as things stand

16.6
0
Gulbadin Naib to Taskin Ahmed, no run, Big shout for caught behind as Taskin pokes at a back of length delivery from outside off. But probably more in hope than anything else. No review taken
16.5
0
Gulbadin Naib to Taskin Ahmed, no run, On a length around off, Taskin taps it towards cover. They decide against a risky single
16.4
1
Gulbadin Naib to Litton Das, 1 run, Back of length again, Litton pulls it to deep midwicket for another easy single
16.3
1
Gulbadin Naib to Taskin Ahmed, 1 run, Full on the pads, Taskin flicks it away to deep midwicket

Karthik: "Who's got the nerves now?" - I know I do! DJ Bravo probably does too, he is on the edge of the rope

16.2
1
Gulbadin Naib to Litton Das, 1 run, Dug in short outside off, Litton pulls it down to long-on. That's 100 up for Bangladesh

Bangladesh 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st16Litton DasTanzid Hasan
2nd7Litton DasNajmul Hossain Shanto
3rd0Shakib Al HasanLitton Das
4th25Soumya SarkarLitton Das
5th16Litton DasTowhid Hridoy
6th16MahmudullahLitton Das
7th0Litton DasRishad Hossain
8th12Litton DasTanzim Hasan Sakib
9th13Litton DasTaskin Ahmed
10th0Mustafizur RahmanLitton Das

ICC Men's T20 World Cup

Super Eights, Group 1
TeamMWLPTNRR
IND33062.017
AFG3214-0.305
AUS3122-0.331
BAN3030-1.709
Super Eights, Group 2
TeamMWLPTNRR
SA33060.599
ENG32141.992
WI31220.963
USA3030-3.906
Group A
TeamMWLPTNRR
IND43071.137
USA42150.127
PAK42240.294
CAN4123-0.493
IRE4031-1.293
Group B
TeamMWLPTNRR
AUS44082.791
ENG42153.611
SCOT42151.255
NAM4132-2.585
OMA4040-3.062
Group C
TeamMWLPTNRR
WI44083.257
AFG43161.835
NZ42240.415
UGA4132-4.51
PNG4040-1.268
Group D
TeamMWLPTNRR
SA44080.47
BAN43160.616
SL41230.863
NED4132-1.358
NEP4031-0.542