Player of the Match
Player of the Match

8:40pm Right. That will be a wrap from us. Afghanistan are still very much in contention for the semi-final; Netherlands, well, not quite. Tomorrow, two teams hoping to make the final four aka New Zealand and Pakistan will be at it, and that is a day game too. Later in the afternoon, Australia lock horns with England in what is expected to a high-intensity clash. Do join us for both of those matches but for tonight, this is me (Shashwat) signing off on behalf of Sreshth, Thilak and everyone else at ESPNcricinfo. Goodbye, take care!

Hashmatullah Shahidi, Afghanistan captain: (What pleased him more between their batting and bowling performance) I can say both. We bowled well but the run-chase is good. Third consecutive time that we have chased down a target successfully. (Run-chases and why it brings out the best in them) We are looking at the board and at the target of the opposition team. We are playing accordingly, and we are achieving for our team. (On Nabi) He is a special player. He always shows his talent. Whenever team needs him, he takes responsibility, like he did today. We are all very united at this World Cup. We are enjoying our wins, and all of them are thinking about winning. (On dreaming about the semi-final) Of course, 100% . We are trying our best to make it to the semi final and if it happens, it will be a big achievement for the country. I lost my mother three months ago and my family is in a lot of pain. It will be a big achievement (to reach the semi-final), first of all for the country, but also for my family. (Message to the people back home) Right now, a lot of refugee people are struggling. We are watching their videos and we are sad for them. We are with them in these tough times and I want to dedicate this win to them, who are in pain, and to everyone back home.

Scott Edwards, Netherlands captain: (On the run-outs) Definitely not ideal. Hard to come back from that. We started well and set ourselves up for a good total but gave it away a little. They have high-quality spinners and we did not have top-order batters to face them. (On the decision at the toss and the dew) The theory we went in with was we could not really plan for the dew. 280 would have been a good score even if dew was around. (On Champions Trophy qualification) Not something we were looking to before this game but something we might have to look at now.

"NRR -0.330 is less than -0.024. So PAK should be ahead of AFG. Isn't it?" -- Afghanistan have two more points than Pakistan, Arun, and the number of points always takes precedence.

Mohammad Nabi, Player of the Match: (On how well he is bowling) Just focussing on my lines and lengths. Focussing on dot balls. I always try to concentrate on my lines and lengths, and variations. I try to stick to my plans and use the angles. In some pitches, the variation is more, that is sometimes why I get more wickets. I focus on dot balls and that is how I control my economy rate. (On what keeps him going) Still working on my fitness, working on my rehab, proper diets. It is working (smiles).

8:04pm Another clinical run-chase, and two more points on the board for Afghanistan. They have now won three on the spin and are up to fifth, level on points with Australia and New Zealand, and two points ahead of Pakistan. However, their NRR, when compared to the aforementioned teams, is the lowest. They did do their NRR some good by chasing this down inside 32 overs but because of what happened to them earlier in the tournament, it still lies below zero.

Coming back to the run-chase, Rahmat and Shahidi were brilliant, like they were against Pakistan. When Zadran got out, there was a small window of opportunity but the two experienced campaigners slammed that particular door shut, and once that partnership established itself, there was not much the Dutch could do.

Speaking of Netherlands, they were always playing catch-up having been bundled out for 179. They did pick up both openers relatively cheaply, although the lack of scoreboard pressure meant that one brisk partnership was enough to take the game truly beyond them.

31.3
4
Dutt to Hashmatullah Shahidi, FOUR, out he comes, and away it goes! Captain Shahidi lands the final blow, and adds the finishing touches to another accomplished all-round display! In the slot on middle and leg. Shahidi marches down and smears it over mid wicket. Takes off his helmet, soaks in the applause and lets out a huge smile. The Dutch players walk back disconsolate, but they were thoroughly outplayed by Afghanistan tonight!
31.2
0
Dutt to Hashmatullah Shahidi, no run, fired in a bit quicker after seeing the batter advance. Shahidi, having not gotten to the pitch of the ball, punches it to short extra cover
31.1
1
Dutt to Azmatullah Omarzai, 1 run, back of a length outside off. Omarzai goes back and punches it to long on

END OF OVER:
31 | 6 Runs | AFG: 176/3 (4 runs required from 19 overs, RR: 5.67, RRR: 0.21)

  • Hashmatullah Shahidi52 (62b)
  • Azmatullah Omarzai30 (27b)
  • Colin Ackermann3-0-12-0
  • Aryan Dutt8-0-44-0
30.6
0
Ackermann to Hashmatullah Shahidi, no run, looped up on a length on middle and leg. Shahidi stretches forward and prods it into the off side
30.5
0
Ackermann to Hashmatullah Shahidi, no run, full on off. Shahidi comes down the track and pokes it back to the bowler
30.5
1w
Ackermann to Hashmatullah Shahidi, 1 wide, slides this one down the leg side, and on this occasion, the umpire has no qualms in calling it a wide
30.4
1
Ackermann to Azmatullah Omarzai, 1 run, back of a length at the stumps. Knocked down the ground to long on for another single
30.3
1
Ackermann to Hashmatullah Shahidi, 1 run, slightly slower on a length on off. Shahidi presses half forward and punches it past extra cover for one
30.2
2
Ackermann to Hashmatullah Shahidi, 2 runs, length on middle and leg. Shahidi hangs back and tugs it towards deep mid wicket. Sprints back for two, and gets to his third fifty this World Cup!
30.1
1
Ackermann to Azmatullah Omarzai, 1 run, full on middle and leg. Omarzai comes forward and pushes it down to long on

Ajey: "As much as Afghanistan has difficult matches coming up, Pakistan too has two big ones coming." -- That is true but if Pakistan and Afghanistan lose to NZ and Australia, respectively, they will not just lose two points, but also give their direct rivals a two-point push

END OF OVER:
30 | 7 Runs | AFG: 170/3 (10 runs required from 20 overs, RR: 5.66, RRR: 0.50)

  • Azmatullah Omarzai28 (25b)
  • Hashmatullah Shahidi49 (58b)
  • Aryan Dutt8-0-44-0
  • Colin Ackermann2-0-6-0
29.6
1
Dutt to Azmatullah Omarzai, 1 run, short and outside off. Omarzai stands tall and hacks it down to long on
29.5
4
Dutt to Azmatullah Omarzai, FOUR, four more! Dutt tries some sort of variation but it goes horribly wrong. Ends up being a gentle full toss on off stump, and Omarzai thumps it over mid off
29.4
1
Dutt to Hashmatullah Shahidi, 1 run, full and at the stumps. Driven down the ground to long off

Shahidi wanted to review that wide call, but there is no provision for that at this World Cup, unfortunately...

29.3
0
Dutt to Hashmatullah Shahidi, no run, fired down the leg side. Shahidi does not get bat on it but the ball reckons it might have hit something on the way. Not called a wide
29.2
1
Dutt to Azmatullah Omarzai, 1 run, shortish outside off. Omarzai throws his hands at it and drills it out to deep cover point
29.1
0
Dutt to Azmatullah Omarzai, no run, darted in on a length outside off. Omarzai swishes at it and misses. Edwards takes off the bails and enquires for the stumping. Not sure there was much there but we go upstairs because, well, why not. The third umpire first checks for an outside edge. The bat, though, is well away from the ball. Omarzai's foot is grounded behind the crease too, and we move on!

Dutt is back

END OF OVER:
29 | 3 Runs | AFG: 163/3 (17 runs required from 21 overs, RR: 5.62, RRR: 0.80)

  • Azmatullah Omarzai22 (21b)
  • Hashmatullah Shahidi48 (56b)
  • Colin Ackermann2-0-6-0
  • Paul van Meekeren5-0-35-0
28.6
1
Ackermann to Azmatullah Omarzai, 1 run, back of a length on off. Omarzai waits in his crease and turns it towards deep mid wicket
28.5
0
Ackermann to Azmatullah Omarzai, no run, back of a length outside off. Spins back into Omarzai and cramps him for room as he attempts to glide it fine past short third
28.4
1
Ackermann to Hashmatullah Shahidi, 1 run, shortish on middle and leg. Shahidi shapes up for the pull but the ball gets big on him. Swipes at it anyway and splices it over mid wicket for a brace
28.3
0
Ackermann to Hashmatullah Shahidi, no run, length just outside off. Grips in the surface and squares up the batter as he prods it towards point
28.2
0
Ackermann to Hashmatullah Shahidi, no run, slowed up on a full length on middle and leg. Shahidi pushes it back to the bowler
28.1
1
Ackermann to Azmatullah Omarzai, 1 run, full just outside off. Omarzai tries to go downtown but ends up shanking it to long on

Ackermann to continue. Omarzai might look to go after him too

END OF OVER:
28 | 11 Runs | AFG: 160/3 (20 runs required from 22 overs, RR: 5.71, RRR: 0.90)

  • Hashmatullah Shahidi47 (53b)
  • Azmatullah Omarzai20 (18b)
  • Paul van Meekeren5-0-35-0
  • Colin Ackermann1-0-3-0
27.6
4
van Meekeren to Hashmatullah Shahidi, FOUR, Afghanistan are pushing on the accelerator now! In the slot on middle and leg. Shahidi marches down the track and bangs it over mid on!

Afghanistan 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st27Ibrahim ZadranRahmanullah Gurbaz
2nd28Rahmat ShahIbrahim Zadran
3rd74Hashmatullah ShahidiRahmat Shah
4th52Hashmatullah ShahidiAzmatullah Omarzai