ICC World Cup 2023: Afghanistan (181/3) register their fourth win in World Cup 2023, beating Netherlands (179) by 7 wickets

What a story it will be if Afghans go through to semis. SA might drop their guard just in case they beat India
 
I can see Afghanistan reaching the semis
I think they will upset Australia with their spin
 
This game is also important for England.

A Dutch win here can significantly reduce England's chance of qualifying for 2025 CT.
 
AFG - 55/2 (10.1 overs).

Afghans lose their 2nd wicket.

125 runs are needed from 39.5 overs.
 
Nice to see Oranje and AFG fans celebrating cricket.

Are you watching ICC? Expand the World T20. We need more fans from other countries rather than wasting schedule space and energy on gimmicks like WTC
 
AFG - 60/2 (11 overs).

Afghans are scoring at a good rate despite losing 2 wickets.
 
I propose scrapping WTC and CT. Two very pointless tournaments.

Asia Cup should be gone too.
Asia Cup happens once in 2 years and CT is happening after 8 years.

WTC happens throughout. The format is dead apart from Big 3.

Time to put it out of its misery
 
Asia Cup happens once in 2 years and CT is happening after 8 years.

WTC happens throughout. The format is dead apart from Big 3.

Time to put it out of its misery

Why is there a need for CT? There's already a 50-over ODI World Cup.

CT is cricket's equivalent to FIFA's Confederation Cup (which FIFA scrapped recently).
 
Why is there a need for CT? There's already a 50-over ODI World Cup.
Scrap it if you want but what difference does it make to the schedule?

A tournament that happens infrequently and runs for 2 weeks does not hamper cricket scheduling .
 
AFG - 71/2 (13 overs).

AFG need 109 more runs to win from 37 overs.

NED need quick wickets.
 
Asia Cup happens once in 2 years and CT is happening after 8 years.

WTC happens throughout. The format is dead apart from Big 3.

Time to put it out of its misery
Test cricket should be scrapped . Who has time to watch 5 day . Even people don’t watch 50 overs . Football match even a club match is full of crowd . ICC needs to rethink and move forward with some serious strategy
 
If Afghanistan win today then they need another win to have some chance for qualify to semifinals.
Afghanistan qualification ( assuming they win this match)
- they need to win atleast one game
- Pakistan lose one game
- NZ lose remaining game.
 
Test cricket should be scrapped . Who has time to watch 5 day . Even people don’t watch 50 overs . Football match even a club match is full of crowd . ICC needs to rethink and move forward with some serious strategy

I agree.

I think Test needs to be modified. Make it 2 innings long maybe (instead of 4).
 
If Afghanistan win today then they need another win to have some chance for qualify to semifinals.
Afghanistan qualification ( assuming they win this match)
- they need to win atleast one game
- Pakistan lose one game
- NZ lose remaining game.
NZ losing to SL is tough to see.

They lost by close margins to strong IND and OZ . They don't lose to weak teams generally speaking.

In fact , if NZ wins tmrw(and AFG win today), the World Cup is over for PAK, ENG, NED, SL. With 1 win they will knock 4 teams out.

Mathematically, only AFG will have some chance.
 
Is it me or Afghanistan is the Pakistan of this World Cup?

They have been very spirited definitely.

But, I wouldn't say they are the Pakistan of this WC. Afghanistan have their own flavor; spin is their main weapon.
 
They have been very spirited definitely.

But, I wouldn't say they are the Pakistan of this WC. Afghanistan have their own flavor; spin is their main weapon.
They have also been lucky enough to play 2 games at Chennai 2 at Lucknow. Had they played more games at wankhede, bengluru, hyderabad high scoring ground things would have been different for them too.
 
Afg at the moment is the 3rd best team in Asia. Pakistan is still the 2nd best, but the gap between Afg and Pak is closing fast.

They should look to close this game in the next 7 or 8 overs. Will be a massive boost to the NRR.
 
Afg at the moment is the 3rd best team in Asia. Pakistan is still the 2nd best, but the gap between Afg and Pak is closing fast.

They should look to close this game in the next 7 or 8 overs. Will be a massive boost to the NRR.
They can't close the Gap without having decent fast bowlers. Most of the Afghanistan have played in India in ipl and international matches. So already having experience of playing on these grounds definitely helps alot
 
Omarzai gives lots of balance to AFG team - they can play 3 spinners even outside Asia with him playing as 3rd seemer, and batting at 5!!.
 
Omarzai gives lots of balance to AFG team - they can play 3 spinners even outside Asia with him playing as 3rd seemer, and batting at 5!!.

Yeah. He can be handy in 2027 WC (pace bowling all-rounder).
 
Would be interesting to see what AFG's NRR is after today's game. They should get very close to Pakistan's NRR.

149/3 (27 overs).

31 more to win.
 
I dont see AFG in any kind of hurry. They should ahve sent Nabi at 2 down to up the ante. They still have a huge difference between them and NZ. Hope this doesn't come to bite them when qualification comes down to NRR.
 
Babar has less impact than Rahmat Shah in this World Cup. So much for #1 batter in this format
That was always going to happen - you should never put your best batsman as Captain for a struggling side. And, he is not tough enough to handle the pressure. Someone else Captaining the side and Babar batting freely could have brought the best out of him. He is still playing very good shots, but getting out at wrong time, and often being to defensive.

In history of cricket, all the great batsmen captain have led established, dominating teams - EXCEPT one, Allan Border. For their glorious history, for few years in mid 1980s, Australia wasn't among top 3 teams in world and that time Border was given the Captaincy..... but mentally he was extremally tough, had great individual ability as well and got an exciting young team where he was like father figure. And to bring a better balance for his team, he moved down to 5, and started bowling!!! For good 4-5 years he was Aussies second spinner - took a match 10 for and got two vital wickets in 1987 WC SF & Final (His two counterparts - Imran & Gatting.... both C Dyer, B Border, both changing the game to opposite direction).

Babar should resign on his own and focus on batting only - still he can serve PAK for best part of a decade.
 
2 boundaries in the over. Afghans are looking to finish it quickly now.

19 more runs to win.
 
Babar has less impact than Rahmat Shah in this World Cup. So much for #1 batter in this format
It's easy to pick an in form batsman to say he has done better than A, B or C. For instance he is also performing better than likes of Bairstow and Butler.
 
Anyone have any idea how many overs Afghan need to chase in to level Pakistan NRR?
 
thanks

happy for them but a pity for us
But its difficult for AFG to get another two points to get thier NRR in contentions, Given they have to win against AUS and Proteas. And one loss will again Bring their NRR down.
So if Pakistan wins both their NRR will only improve.
As said by many experts Pakistan has only look for wins in last two matches. AFG will not challenge them, NZ win against SL will challenge PAK
 
But its difficult for AFG to get another two points to get thier NRR in contentions, Given they have to win against AUS and Proteas. And one loss will again Bring their NRR down.
So if Pakistan wins both their NRR will only improve.
As said by many experts Pakistan has only look for wins in last two matches. AFG will not challenge them, NZ win against SL will challenge PAK
I am not at all comfortable with the idea of an abysmal Sri Lanka winning against New Zealand.

Their players would just be looking to go home for sure.
 
That loss against ban going to hurt afg at the end.. They may have lost the golden opportunity to make into the semis.
 
I am not at all comfortable with the idea of an abysmal Sri Lanka winning against New Zealand.

Their players would just be looking to go home for sure.
There is a high possibility of rain in both of NZs next matches. The next 1 week is going to be interesting to see how the final 4 places pan out.
 
I wonder how Afghanistan lost against Bangladesh? 🥲
Looks like this is their last win in this World cup.
Don't think they will beat South Africa and Australia.
They won't reach semis, but they have won our hearts 👍🏻
Love Afghani brothers from India ❤️
 
I wonder how Afghanistan lost against Bangladesh? 🥲
Looks like this is their last win in this World cup.
Don't think they will beat South Africa and Australia.
They won't reach semis, but they have won our hearts 👍🏻
Love Afghani brothers from India ❤️
I think they can capture SAF if they force them to chase.
 
A long tribute to the Afghan refugees from Hashmat now at the presentation ceremony. Both in English and in their own language.
 
Nor really. NZ still have a chance against SL even after losing to PAK. Whereas if pakistan loses they need to win against ENG and hope NZ loses to SL.
Depends on how bad they lose, IF they lose.

The NRR is quite close, and Pakistan has the advantage of knowing what they need to do to qualify.

Pakistan will still mess it up though, these boys are sensational under pressure.
 
I wonder how Afghanistan lost against Bangladesh? 🥲
Looks like this is their last win in this World cup.
Don't think they will beat South Africa and Australia.
They won't reach semis, but they have won our hearts 👍🏻
Love Afghani brothers from India ❤️
They met them very early in the tournament. THey were still getting into groove. Bit unfortunate. They would have rather wanted to face India or some other sides and lost and beat BD later.
 
That was always going to happen - you should never put your best batsman as Captain for a struggling side. And, he is not tough enough to handle the pressure. Someone else Captaining the side and Babar batting freely could have brought the best out of him. He is still playing very good shots, but getting out at wrong time, and often being to defensive.

In history of cricket, all the great batsmen captain have led established, dominating teams - EXCEPT one, Allan Border. For their glorious history, for few years in mid 1980s, Australia wasn't among top 3 teams in world and that time Border was given the Captaincy..... but mentally he was extremally tough, had great individual ability as well and got an exciting young team where he was like father figure. And to bring a better balance for his team, he moved down to 5, and started bowling!!! For good 4-5 years he was Aussies second spinner - took a match 10 for and got two vital wickets in 1987 WC SF & Final (His two counterparts - Imran & Gatting.... both C Dyer, B Border, both changing the game to opposite direction).

Babar should resign on his own and focus on batting only - still he can serve PAK for best part of a decade.
I agree when you put it that way .

But for an Asian #3 supposed to be at his peak, his game against spin is awful.

Also, I'm not sure what choice PAK have . The only realistic alternative captaincy choices are Rizwan and Shaheen .
 
Nor really. NZ still have a chance against SL even after losing to PAK. Whereas if pakistan loses they need to win against ENG and hope NZ loses to SL.
PAK lose tomorrow and they are out. No NRR scenario after that.

It will be between OZ/NZ/AFG for last 2 spots.
 
A long tribute to the Afghan refugees from Hashmat now at the presentation ceremony. Both in English and in their own language.

Looks like Afghans are quite hurt on deportation of illegal refugees.. they cant seem to shake it off even after winning against other sides like netherlands. India is best friend of Afghanistan.. India should offer asylum to those refugees that are making Afghan players hurt so much
 
They met them very early in the tournament. THey were still getting into groove. Bit unfortunate. They would have rather wanted to face India or some other sides and lost and beat BD later.
Afg played on a bouncy pitch in their first game and struggled a lot.if it was played on low and slow typical sub continent pich,they may have pulled off a win.
 
A long tribute to the Afghan refugees from Hashmat now at the presentation ceremony. Both in English and in their own language.
ICC should ban this nonsense

What if Pakistanis pay tribute to innocent Kashmiris during these ceremonies.
 
Afghanistan make it three in three with confident display in Lucknow

Rahmat Shah (52) and Hashmatullah Shahidi (56*) stood tall for Afghanistan with a stand of 74 runs for the third wicket. Despite, managing to eke out early wickets, the Netherlands weren't quite in the game due to their modest outing in the first innings.

Erratic running resulted in the loss of four Dutch batters while the rest of the wickets were snared by Afghanistan spinners. Keeper Ikram Alikhil stood out for his sharp work behind the stumps, being involved in three run-outs, a stumping, and two catches.

With this third win on a trot, Afghanistan sit with eight points on the World Cup table and have boosted their chances of a knockout spot.

Match 34: Afghanistan win by seven wickets against Netherlands

Afghanistan's reliable opening pair of Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran got them off to a characteristic brisk start.

Boundaries flowed with ease as the Asian side went at about five and a half an over. This went on till Gurbaz was taken down the leg side off Logan van Beek. While initially ruled as a wide, the decision was eventually overturned after Scott Edwards took a review.

Rahmat Shah and Ibrahim Zadran then joined forces to ensure that Afghanistan went ahead at a fair pace.

Even though Ibrahim fell to Roelof van der Merwe in the 11th over, Afghanistan were moving towards their target at a steady pace.

Having reached a solid 109 at the 20 over mark, Rahmat and Hashmatullah Shahidi picked up pace. Although Rahmat fell to Saqib Zulfiqar in the 23rd over, Afghanistan went at 6.5 an over between overs 21-25.

Afghanistan eventually cleared the line in the 32nd over.

Scott Edwards called it right at the toss and elected to bat first. Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi also said that he too would've liked to bat on the wicket.

For the Dutch, Vikramjit Singh and Shariz Ahmad were out, with Roelof van der Merwe and Saqib Zulfiqar coming in their place. Wesley Barresi opened the innings in place of Vikramjit. For Afghanistan, Naveen-ul-Haq missed out as Noor Ahmad entered the side, opting for a four-pronged spin attack.

Netherlands's new opening pair didn't last too long at the crease as the pinpoint accuracy of Mujeeb Ur Rahman accounted for Barresi in the very first over. He trapped the veteran Dutch batter lbw for 3. This was Mujeeb's 100th ODI wicket.

The Dutch batters were, however, soon among runs. Max O'Dowd and Colin Ackermann were positive as they found the boundaries at regular intervals. A number of their boundaries also came out of fine touches down the leg side or edges which safely travelled behind the wicket. The duo were already going over six an over at the end of the first Powerplay.

Afghanistan's concerns were further exacerbated when Rashid Khan walked off the pitch with an injury concern in the fifth over. However, the all-rounder returned to the field a few overs later.

The Dutch pair were going steady when a superb throw from the deep accounted for O'Dowd (42). The ball drifted to the batter's leg, who placed it towards the fine leg region. The batters took off with an easy two in mind, but O'Dowd's return was impeded by some exceptional work from Azmatullah Omarzai, who charged in and induced a direct hit.

The Netherlands scoring rate dropped as the new batters tried to settle in. However, a sequence of run-outs off back-to-back balls derailed their innings.

Sybrand Engelbrecht set off for a sharp single after placing a ball straight to the mid-off. Sharp work from Rashid sent back the set Ackermann (29). Off the very next ball, skipper Scott Edwards tried to sweep Mohammad Nabi, but missed and ended up edging towards the keeper. Ikram Alikhil stopped it with his legs, before running out Edwards for a duck.

Nabi soon had Bas de Leede caught behind for three and the Netherlands had lost half their side at the start of the 21st over.

From 112/5 at the mid-innings mark, the Netherlands failed to build up towards an ending that would get them to a strong total. While Engelbrecht looked the best batter out there, hitting a flurry of boundaries, other batters fell to erratic strokes.

And when Engelbrecht was himself run out while going for a rash single in the 35th over, the Dutch effort was all but over.

Netherlands and Afghanistan remain in the hunt for a semi-final spot following victories for each side in their last match at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023.

The Dutch beat Bangladesh to add to their earlier upset over South Africa, but need to back it up against Afghanistan and then win their two remaining matches to snatch a potential place in the knockout stage.

Afghanistan are better-placed with three wins in their past four matches though they also have little margin for error and will want to bank a fourth victory when they face Netherlands with only heavy-hitters Australia and South Africa still to come.

Net run rate looms as the key to progressing to the semi-finals and both Netherlands (current NRR -1.277) and Afghanistan (-0.718) are in desperate need of securing a healthy boost along with the two points.

This will be the 10th ODI between the pair, with Netherlands winning the first 50-over clash in 2009 but only coming out on top once more in 2012.

Afghanistan won all three of their ODI meetings at the start of last year while batting first and setting Netherlands challenging targets, but the stakes are much higher this time as the Cricket World Cup approaches the pointy end.

Source: ICC
 
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