Image Credit- ICC
After a fourth victory in seven games, Afghanistan
increased their hopes of qualifying for the semi-finals by increasing their net
run-rate and undoing the Netherlands with four run-outs, a stumping, and a spin
chokehold in Lucknow.
Afghanistan’s 111-ball victory over 180 balls was
quickly secured with the help of 52 from Rahmat Shah and 56 from Hashmatullah
Shahidi. However, the majority of the action occurred in the first half, where
Afghanistan bowled well in certain areas but was aided by frequent mistakes
from the Netherlands.
Max O’Dowd’s early attack helped the Netherlands start
the day with their best batting start of the World Cup, reaching 72 for 1 in 11
overs. However, O’Dowd was run out in the 12th over while trying to score a
second run when Azmatullah Omarzai hit him straight with a fine leg.
Subsequently, the run-outs persisted for no apparent
reason as a composed Colin Ackermann (29), took a while to respond to a single
call from Sybrand Engelbrecht. The next delivery, Scott Edwards mishit a
reverse sweep and didn’t know where it landed; by the time he did, wicketkeeper
Ikram Alikhil had smashed his stumps. After a brief chase by Rashid Khan, Noor
Ahmed, and Muhammad Nabi, Engelbrecht—the man keeping the innings afloat—was
also run out after Roelof van der Merwe called him for a single that wasn’t
there.
After Rahmanullah Gurbaz was out in the fifth over and
Ibrahim Zadran was out by the eleventh, Afghanistan’s pursuit of 180 got off to
a stutter. However, they weren’t under pressure to score runs after No. 3
Rahmat’s early barrage of boundaries. Afghanistan remained well ahead in the
chase thanks to Rahmat’s work in front of square on the off side and his
partnership of 74 in 77 balls with Shahidi. Once the initial thrill faded, the
seamers from the Netherlands became less effective, and the batsmen were cautious
when facing the spin of Zulfiqar and Aryan Dutt.
Rahmat scored his 26th century in all ODIs and his
third consecutive fifty at the World Cup, however he was caught and bowled by
wristspinner Zulfiqar, who had the wrong foot. The Dutch revelry was
short-lived, though, as Shahidi held fort and Omarzai counterpunched upon
entering. Along the way, Shahidi scored his 19th fifty in an ODI, and the win
was sealed in the 32nd over, leaving the tandem undefeated at 52. It’s amazing
that no sixes were struck during the match.