Minnows breathe life into Aussie WC dream… but cruel weather twist could ruin it all

Australia’s hopes of an unlikely semi-final berth in the T20 World Cup rely on a solid Bangladesh batting exhibition – that isn’t too dominant – against Afghanistan this afternoon.

The Aussies will need Bangladesh to chase down Afghanistan’s target of 116 in more than 12.1 overs if they are to progress through to the final four.

Incredibly, that scenario would see the 2021 T20 World Cup winners go through with just one win from three games and a net run rate (NRR) of -0.331.

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However, should the world number nine-ranked Bangladesh chase down the total in less than 12.1 overs (assuming a full 20 overs are allocated), their net run-rate will surpass Australia’s and see them make their first ever T20 World Cup semi-finals.

And dramatically, rain has inserted itself at the very start of the innings break to make the chase for a semi-final spot even more chaotic.
A reduced game will obviously change the equation for the trio of teams that can qualify, with weather threatening to perhaps wipe out a completed match in general.

Australia’s 24-run loss to India this morning resulted in their hopes to progressing to the tournament’s final four being put entirely in the hands of the match in Kingstown.

Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bat, with Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto noting that he would have bowled anyway if they won the coin flip.

The Tigers got off to a red-hot start, bowling seven dots balls in the first two overs to restrict Afghanistan to 0-5.

Tanzim Hasan Sakib’s second over was unfortunately not as economical, forcing four byes with a wild bouncer before being taken aerially through the covers for four next ball – as Afghanistan gained 11 runs from it.

Openers Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmanullah Gurbaz were lightning quick between the wickets, putting Bangladesh’s fielders on notice right from ball one.

Veteran all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan was introduced into the attack for the innings’ fifth over, with his left-arm orthodox not taking long to provide a chance.

With just his third ball, Ibrahim was dropped by young batter Towhid Hridoy at short cover – a chance that while extremely tough, would have gone a long way to aiding an unlikely Australian semi-finals berth, and an even more unlikely berth for Bangladesh.

And despite the missed opportunity and wicketless powerplay, Bangladesh rounded the six-over period out arguably as leaders, keeping Afghanistan to 0-27 – their lowest powerplay score for the tournament.

In the last ball of the seventh over, Gurbaz registered his side’s first maximum for the innings, coming down the wicket to Shakib’s bowling and giving Afghanistan a much-needed boundary.

“Why are you floating that one up, aren’t you just firing that one in at the pads?” former New Zealand fast bowler Simon Doull said on the six.

Tanzim Hasan Sakib again dug a short ball into the pitch at pace, this time leading to five wides on top of his four byes from a similar ball in the third over – giving Afghanistan an extra leg up.

Sitting at 0-58 at the halfway mark of the innings, momentum was still very much in the balance; albeit there it was no doubt advantage Afghanistan due to their 10 wickets in hand.

Almost on cue, Rishad Hossain for 18 runs off 29 balls removed Ibrahim with a skied shot to a running long-off – breaking a threatening partnership between the Afghani opening duo.

Afghanistan scored just 22 runs between overs 10 to 15, and sat at a peculiar 1-80 with five overs to play in the innings.

“At the moment, they’re doing everything right to make that (semi-finals qualification) a possibility … they have been simply superb with their line (and) length,” Doull commented.

“Bangladesh would be thrilled about it, absolutely thrilled about it,” former New Zealand wicketkeeper Ian Smith added in the 16th over.

First drop batter Azmatullah Omarzai (10 off 12) departed not long after Smith’s comments, courtesy of a Bangladesh review for caught behind that was originally given not out.

“They haven’t got enough runs at this point, and by some margin you would suspect,” Smith added after Omarzai’s dismissal.

Not losing his grip on the bat for the first time of the evening, Gurbaz attempted to up the run rate to start the 17th over, but ended up holing out to Soumya Sarkar at deep cover to force Afghanistan to 3-89.

And Sarkar produced an even better catch later that over to send Gulbadin Naib packing for four off three balls.
A 15-run last over sparked by Rashid Khan took Afghanistan from 5-100 to 5-115, with the superstar bowling all-rounder finishing the innings with a 98 metre six over cow corner.

Khan finished on 19 not off off 10 balls, while Karim Janat also finished with red ink after 7 off 6.