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Afghanistan kept their hopes of reaching the semi-finals alive by defeating the Netherlands by seven wickets...
Digital Desk: In a thrilling World Cup encounter on Friday, Afghanistan kept their hopes of reaching the semi-finals alive by defeating the Netherlands by seven wickets. The low-scoring group game played in India, showcased Afghanistan's determination and talent, securing their fifth position in the standings with eight points.
Afghanistan's journey in the World Cup has been nothing short of remarkable. While they had only won a single game in two previous tournaments, this year has seen them emerge as a formidable force, securing four wins against top teams, including defending champions England, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Their impressive performance has placed them in contention for a spot in the semi-finals, a goal they are actively pursuing.
Hashmatullah Shahidi, Afghanistan's skipper, played a pivotal role in the victory by leading the run-chase with an unbeaten fifty. Expressing his emotions after the match, Shahidi dedicated the win to his family and the Afghan refugees who are facing challenging times. He shared, "I lost my mother three months ago, so my family is in pain. That would be a big achievement, first of all to our country and then to my family also. Right now a lot of refugees are struggling. We are with them in this tough time, I dedicate this win to refugees who are in pain."
Chasing a target of 180 for victory, Afghanistan faced some early setbacks, reaching 55-2. However, Rahmat Shah's breezy 52 off 54 balls laid the foundation for a comfortable chase. Hashmatullah Shahidi then took charge, scoring 56 runs and guiding Afghanistan to a victory in the 32nd over with his sixth boundary.
In the earlier stages of the match, the Netherlands had won the toss and opted to bat first. The Afghan bowlers were relentless, with Mujeeb Ur Rahman reaching a significant milestone by claiming his 100th ODI wicket in the very first over. Shahidi had commended his team's batting and bowling, but it was their fielding prowess that kept the Dutch side in check. Four Dutch batters were run out due to mix-ups, stifling their run-scoring efforts.
Despite Max O'Dowd's promising innings of 42 with nine fours, he was run out by a remarkable fielding display from Azmatullah Omarzai, who hit the stumps directly, leaving O'Dowd's dive in vain. Captain Scott Edwards, the top scorer for the Netherlands in the tournament, was dismissed on the first ball as he inadvertently stepped out of the crease, leaving him run out by Afghan keeper Ikram Alikhil.
Sybrand Engelbrecht offered some resistance with a patient 58, but the Dutch side was eventually all out for 179 in the 47th over. Afghanistan's Alikhil was involved in six dismissals, and Mohammad Nabi claimed three wickets.
Looking ahead, Afghanistan is set to face Australia and South Africa in their upcoming matches, while the Netherlands, currently in eighth place, will take on England and host India. As the World Cup progresses, the cricketing world eagerly anticipates more thrilling matches and remarkable performances from these teams.
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