Kingstown | Afghanistan qualified for the semifinals of the T20 World Cup after beating Bangladesh by eight runs in the rain-hit final Super 8 game here.
In a must-win match which saw frequent rain interruptions, Afghanistan scored 115 for 5 in their 20 overs and then returned to bowl out Bangladesh for 105 in 17.5 overs. The match was truncated to 19-overs-a-side due to inclement weather and Bangladesh was given a revised target of 114.
The result knocked out former champions Australia, whose slim hopes were hinging on Bangladesh winning this game. Afghanistan will take on South Africa in the semifinals on June 27.
After the Afghans opted to bat on winning the toss, Rahmanullah Gurbaz top-scored with a 55-ball 43 but Rishab Hossain (3/26) snapped three wickets to restrict Afghanistan to 115 for 5.
In reply, Litton Das scored an unbeaten 49-ball 54 but couldn't take the team home.
Scoreboard of the final Super 8 match of the T20 World Cup between Afghanistan and Bangladesh here.
Afghanistan Innings:
Rahmanullah Gurbaz c Soumya Sarkar b Rishad Hossain 43
Ibrahim Zadran c Tanzim Hasan Sakib b Rishad Hossain 18
Azmatullah Omarzai c Litton Das b Mustafizur 10
Gulbadin Naib c Soumya Sarkar b Rishad Hossain 4
Mohammad Nabi c Shanto b Taskin Ahmed 1
Karim Janat not out 7
Rashid Khan not out 19
Extras: (B-5, W-8) 13
Total: (5 wkts, 20 Overs) 115
Fall of Wickets: 59-1, 84-2, 88-3, 89-4, 93-5.
Bowling: Tanzim Hasan Sakib 4-0-36-0, Taskin Ahmed 4-1-12-1, Shakib Al Hasan 4-0-19-0, Mustafizur Rahman 4-0-17-1, Rishad Hossain 4-0-26-3.
Bangladesh Innings:
Litton Das not out 54
Tanzid Hasan lbw b Fazalhaq Farooqi 0
Najmul Hossain Shanto c Nabi b Naveen-ul-Haq 5
Shakib Al Hasan c and b Naveen-ul-Haq 0
Soumya Sarkar b Rashid Khan 10
Towhid Hridoy c Ibrahim Zadran b Rashid Khan 14
Mahmudullah c (sub)Mohammad Ishaq b Rashid Khan 6
Rishad Hossain b Rashid Khan 0
Tanzim Hasan Sakib c Nabi b Gulbadin 3
Taskin Ahmed b Naveen-ul-Haq 2
Mustafizur Rahman lbw b Naveen-ul-Haq 0
Extras: (B-1, LB-7, W-3) 11
Total: (10 wkts, 17.5 Overs) 105
Fall of Wickets: 16-1, 23-2, 23-3, 48-4, 64-5, 80-6, 80-7, 92-8, 105-9, 105-10.
Bowling: Naveen-ul-Haq 3.5-0-26-4, Fazalhaq Farooqi 2-0-15-1, Mohammad Nabi 2-0-15-0, Rashid Khan 4-0-23-4, Noor Ahmad 4-0-13-0, Gulbadin Naib 2-0-5-1.
