AFG WON
T20
AFG beat Namibia by 62 runs
Man of the Match - Naveen-ul-Haq
AFG
160-5
20.0/20 Ovrs
 
98-9
20.0/20 Ovrs
Namibia
ICC World Twenty20, 2021 |Super 12 - Match 27 |10/31/2021
Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Commentary
  • So, that is it from this game! Cricketing action does not end here though. The big game follows, India against New Zealand. That game begins at 6 pm local (2 pm GMT). Cheers!
  • Mohammad Nabi, the Afghanistan captain says, the boys are in the good morale. Mentions, they are mentally prepared for the chase, if it ever comes to that. Adds that Zazai and Shahzad have been brutal with the bat up front since ages and hopes they are just working along nicely. Mentions, they are happy to perform with the pace attack today and praises Hassan for his exceptional spell. Adds, he was informed yesterday about Afghan’s decision. Says, it was a shocking decision, but Afghan will be a great T20I captain for the history. Adds, Nabi could not make him change his decision, as Afghan was stuck to his word.
  • Gerhard Erasmus, the Namibian skipper, says that they knew it was going to be a level up from the previous game as they are a Test nation and have quality bowling. Adds that they had to change their plans a bit and believes that the batters couldn't stay for too long on the crease and they did give away a few more runs in the Powerplay as well. Mentions that 160 was a good total and they just had too much quality in attack and even with Mujeeb not playing, all their pacers bowled well. Adds that they know the challenge is getting greater but they deserve to be here and takes this as a stepping stone for the future.
  • Naveen-ul-Haq wins the Player of the Match award, but he dedicates his man of the match award to Asghar, for his contribution to Afghanistan cricket. He says, Naveen-ul-Haq has been exceptional in the shortest form of cricket. Naveen adds it is very special to play in front of the fans. On the new ball, he says he did study a lot and thought to bring in variations would benefit him. Naveen also adds Afghan has been a great skipper for generations. Afghan ends by thanking the fans for their support.
  • ... Presentation Time ...
  • Earlier in the innings, the Afghan openers got off to a flying start. But as both fell, the run flow was brought under control. Nabi and Afghan knocked some crucial runs to reach the 160-run mark. In the end, Afghan bowlers were on song and got over the line in the end with ease.
  • Chasing 161 was always going to be a difficult for Namibia, they needed partnerships but they got none. Just the one batter managed to cross the 20-run mark and that was a David Wiese. The rest really struggled to cope to the pace of the wicket and in the end have fallen well short of the target.
  • Yet another comprehensive win for Afghanistan! They were without Mujeeb Ur Rahman but they did not miss him one bit. Another excellent display with the ball by them but this time it was the pacers who worked their magic. Naveen-ul-Haq started things off with two quickly. Gulbadin Naib and Hamid Hassan then continued the good work. Rashid Khan was economical but the three mentioned above were the stars. Difficult to pick one as all three were equally good.
  • A fitting end then for Asghar Afghan. A big one to round off what has been a career to remember. He is being carried around the ground by Gulbadin Naib on his shoulders.
  • 19.6
    1
    Karim Janat to Ruben Trumpelmann, That's it, Afghanistan are back to winning ways! On middle and Ruben Trumpelmann heaves it to deep mid-wicket for another one. AFGHANISTAN WIN BY 62 RUNS!
  • 19.5
    1
    Karim Janat to Bernard Scholtz, Length this time, around off. Bernard Scholtz gets it through covers for a single.
  • 19.4
    0
    Karim Janat to Bernard Scholtz, Short ball, banged in slow and well outside off. Bernard Scholtz tries to reach it and uppercut it but misses.
  • 19.3
    1
    Karim Janat to Ruben Trumpelmann, Full and straight, Ruben Trumpelmann digs it out to long off for another one.
  • 19.2
    1
    Karim Janat to Bernard Scholtz, Fullish ball, angled in at the leg stump. Bernard Scholtz clears his front leg and heaves it down to long on for a single.
  • 19.1
    0
    Karim Janat to Bernard Scholtz, A length ball, on off and this is tapped to cover-point.
  • END OF OVER 19 | 9 Runs & 0 Wkt | Namibia 94/9
  • Karim Janat to bowl the final over.
  • 18.6
    0
    Naveen-ul-Haq to Ruben Trumpelmann, Another slower one from Naveen-ul-Haq. This is on a length and outside off. Ruben Trumpelmann swings hard at it but misses it completely.
  • 18.5
    0
    Naveen-ul-Haq to Ruben Trumpelmann, Slower one, banged in around the helmet. Ruben Trumpelmann pulls it across nicely but straight to deep square leg. Doesn't take the single yet again.
  • 18.4
    0
    Naveen-ul-Haq to Ruben Trumpelmann, Back of a length, outside off. Trumpelmann pulls it down to long off but denies the single.
  • 18.3
    4
    Naveen-ul-Haq to Ruben Trumpelmann, FOUR! Back-to-back boundaries and Ruben Trumpelmann is spoiling Naveen-ul-Haq's figures. Full and right in the slot again, Trumpelmann smokes it back past the bowler and finds the fence yet again.
  • 18.2
    4
    Naveen-ul-Haq to Ruben Trumpelmann, FOUR! Slower one, right in the slot, around off stump. Ruben Trumpelmann brooms it across and finds the wide long on fence.
  • 18.1
    1
    Naveen-ul-Haq to Bernard Scholtz, On off and Scholtz guides it nicely to third man for a single.
  • END OF OVER 18 | 5 Runs & 0 Wkt | Namibia 85/9
  • 17.6
    1
    Gulbadin Naib to Bernard Scholtz, Length ball, on off and driven through covers for a single.