Afghanistan reach T20 World Cup semi-finals for first time – match report
Australia eliminated; South Africa await Afghanistan in last four
Bangladesh also out – Tigers needed to win in 12.1 overs to reach semis
Naveen and Rashid take four wickets each for Afghanistan
Afghanistan restricted to just 115-5 after winning toss
Venue: Arnos Vale Playing Field, Kingstown
by Sam Drury & Mike Peter
That's it from us after an instant classic ends with Afghanistan beating Bangladesh to book their place in the T20 World Cup semi-finals.
They're through to their first ICC tournament semi and, as a result, Australia are heading home.
You can read all about an astonishing win for Rashid Khan's side here in Mike Peter's report.
After all that excitement, I think we all need a day or so to recover and that's what we've got.
We'll be back bright and early on Thursday, though, to bring you Afghanistan semi-final against South Africa in Trinidad.
Do join us for that – and India v England in the other semi-final – later the same day. Goodbye!
Your T20 World Cup semi-finals are as follows…
More from Rashid Khan…
On the seamers: "They made the job easy for us. They give us a very strong base and it gives us spinners the best opportunity to attack the batters in the middle overs.
"They have given us a great start so far. I'm so happy with the way they have delivered."
On rain delays: "Mentally we were always there. We had to take 10 wickets, that is the only way we could get to the semi-finals."
On the semi-final: "It is a massive celebration back home now, I'm sure. It is a big achievement for us. In this World Cup, I don't have any words to describe the feeling back home.
"I'm so happy the way we have delivered as a team. We have to go in with a very clear mind, keep things simple for ourselves and make sure we enjoy it."
Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan: "It's something like a dream for us as a team to be in a semi-final. It's all about how we have started the tournament and the belief we got.
"It's unbelievable. Back home everyone is so, so happy for us being in the semi-finals.
"I think the only guy who had us in the semis [before the tournament] was Brian Lara. We're so proud and I'm so proud of this team."
On posting 115: "We have 130 or 135 in our mind as a good total but we were 15-20 runs short. It is all about the mindset because we knew they were going to come hard at us.
"We don't need to do anything extra, just be clear with our planning and put the effort in.
"We had to push ourselves for the people back home, for their happiness and to make the country proud."
Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto: "We bowled really well, as a bowling unit we did a lot of good things but as a batting group we made some bad decisions, especially in the middle overs and that cost us today.
"The plan was for the first three wickets to go hard, then to bat normally. The middle order didn't execute the plan so that was our main issue today."
Afghanistan are to T20 cricket what Fiji are to Rugby 7s!
Jeremy, Somerset
This moment is all about Afghanistan but spare a thought for Litton Das.
The Bangladesh opener played superbly to finish unbeaten on 54 as his side were bowled out for 105.
So nearly Australia's hero…
What a moment for Afghanistan. Truly historic for them.
They advance and will play South Africa in the first semi-final in Trinidad.
It's another overnight game for those of us in the UK, starting at 01:30 BST on Thursday.
Player of the match, Afghanistan's Naveen-ul-Haq: "We have worked so hard over the last few years, we were working for this day.
"When you see this day coming and it happens, it's surreal. I'm lost for words.
"We always knew that they were going to go hard in the powerplay. So we knew we were in the game if we picked up wickets and we got two crucial ones in the powerplay.
"These are the games where you never know what can happen. The margin of error is very small.
"These wickets aren't high-scoring wickets so if we took wickets we were in the game, luckily that happened.
"We are in the semis now and we're looking forward to it."
Roushan Alam
Host of The Bangla Cricket Podcast on BBC Sounds
This Afghanistan side has been building and building. Quality openers, defended beautifully by their bowlers. What an incredible team, what incredible spirit.
I'd say the celebrations began when the three reds came up on ball-tracking but in truth they were already well under way.
It was out, they knew it, everybody knew it!
Afghanistan have defended 114 in the most thrilling circumstances.
We've had brilliant bowling, rain at the most dramatic of times, we've even had a dubious hamstring injury to try and delay the game while ahead on DLS.
At the end of it all though, Afghanistan are through to the semi-finals!
Matt Floyd
Test Match Special commentator on BBC Sounds
Rashid Khan looks a drained man after he walks off the pitch. There's tears in his eyes. They've defended a paltry score of 115.
Just incredible! Afghanistan win to eliminate Australia and reach the last four for the first time in their history.
What a story! What a team!
Mustafizur lbw b Naveen 0 (Ban 105 all out)
AFGHANISTAN WIN!
They're into the T20 World Cup semi-finals after the most dramatic of wins!
Full and straight from Naveen-ul-Haq and Mustafizur Rahman played all round it.Matt Floyd
Test Match Special commentator on BBC Sounds
There's a review!
He's got him! Afghanistan win, surely?!
Plumb lbw but Mustafizur sends it upstairs!
Here we go…Matt Floyd
Test Match Special commentator on BBC Sounds
That last ball kept worryingly low from Bangladesh's perspective.
Target 114
The tension builds as the ground staff do the final running repairs before the restart.
The tension is incredible and we are going to see this remarkable match come to a conclusion in the middle.
The players are heading back out with Bangladesh needing nine from eight balls.
Afghanistan need one wicket to make their first semi-final at an ICC tournament!
© 2024 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.
