Afghanistan notch up fourth win

Afghanistan displayed an exceptional team effort as they defeated Netherlands by 7 wickets in their Cricket World Cup match played at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow yesterday.

The pursuit of a 180-run target was accomplished with remarkable ease, leaving them with 7 wickets in hand and a substantial 31.3 overs to spare.

Rahmat Shah who scored 52 in 54 balls and their skipper Hazmatullah Shahidi, who played a captain’s knock with 56 runs off 64 balls. Mohammad Nabi was awarded the Man of the Match.

Afghanistan moved up to the fifth place with 8 points equalling New Zealand and Australia, while India and South Africa hold the top two positions.

Netherlands won the toss and chose to bat on Lucknow’s wicket. Four needless run-outs among the Netherlands’s top scorers caused them to limit their total to just 179.

Max O’Dowd scored 42 in 40 balls, Colin Ackermann with 29 runs from 35 balls and top scorer Sybrand Engelbrecht hit 58 in 86 balls with 6 fours. Afghanistan fielders delivered as expected in a crucial game where they aimed to secure two points, boosting their chances for a spot in the semi-finals.

The experienced Mohammad Nabi finished with excellent figures of 3 for 38, while wrist spinner Noor Ahmed taking 2 for 28, provided valuable support to Nabi. Afghanistan had a manageable target for their chase.

New Zealand will face Pakistan at the Chinnaswamy Cricket Stadium in Bangalore today.

Chief scores

Netherlands: 179 in 46.3 overs (Max O’Dowd 42, Colin Ackermann 29, Sybrand Engelbrecht 58, Roelof Ven der Merv 11,Aryan Dutt 10*, Mohammed Nabi 3/38, Noor Ahmed 2/28)

Afganistan: 181 for 3 wickets in 31.3 overs (Ibrahim Zadran 20, Rahmat Shah 52, Hasthamullah Shahidi 56*, Azmatullah Omarzai 31*)

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