‘Unbelievable’

Afghanistan reached the semi-finals of the Twenty20 World Cup with a dramatic eight-run victory over Bangladesh under the Duckworth Lewis System in St Vincent, joining India as the qualifiers from Group 1 and sending Australia home.

Bangladesh also had a chance to progress or send Australia through with a victory but the Afghans dismissed them for 105 to take the win they needed to set up a historic semi-final against South Africa in Trinidad today.

India, who beat Australia by 24 runs earlier in St Lucia to leave the qualification hopes of the 2021 champions hanging by a thread, will take on holders England in the second semi-final in Guyana tomorrow.

“It’s unbelievable, I don’t have any words to describe my feelings,” Afghanistan skipper Rashid Khan said.

“Definitely back home everyone is so, so happy for this big achievement, for us being in the semi-final.

“We have to push ourselves for the people back home, for their happiness, to make the country proud. So that was the discussion we had and everyone did a wonderful job.”

Afghanistan hopes were dented when they were restricted to a modest 115 for five but Rashid took four for 23 and Naveen-ul-Haq four for 26 in a defiant bowling effort that delivered victory.

The last few overs were high drama played out well past midnight local time, with Bangladesh needing roughly a run a ball and the DLS calculations in case of more rain changing with every wicket and boundary.

Naveen delivered the coup de grace in the penultimate over by bowling Taskin Ahmed and trapping Mustafizur Rahman in front off consecutive balls, triggering tearful celebrations from his teammates.

Even though their hopes of progressing had disappeared after the rain interruption in the 12th over reduced the match by one over and their target to 114, Bangladesh always had a chance of snatching the win but opener Litton Das, who hit 54 not out off 49 balls, ran out of partners.

In St Lucia, skipper Rohit Sharma’s blistering 92 set up a 24-run victory over Australia.

India made an imposing 205 for five before restricting Australia to 181 for seven.