Player of the Match
Player of the Match

11:55pm That will be all from us for this game. Afghanistan are into the Super Eight and they take their place alongside India and Australia, with Bangladesh looking most likely to join them in that group. Another learning curve for PNG, meanwhile, and they will be back at it in a couple of days' time, taking on New Zealand, who also suffered tonight with Afghanistan winning.

Hope you enjoyed our coverage. There is more T20 World Cup action lined up in about eleven hours from now, and we would love your company for that game too. Until next time, this is goodbye from me, Ranjith, Vairavan and everyone else at ESPNcricinfo. Take care, folks!

Rashid Khan, Afghanistan captain: Feeling great to qualify for the next round. First time for Afghanistan being in Super Eight in T20Is. The boys have done well, adjusting to the conditions very quickly and that is something very pleasing for me. It is very important to have someone like him (Farooqi), and it helps you later as well if you get a couple of wickets. The more you attack when there is help for you, the better it is for you. Even if the batter is attacking, you have to attack as well. We are lucky to have him in our side. (On Afghanistan's middle order) We are happy the way the openers played in the first two games. But middle order is all in form and they just need more time. Sometimes, it is hard in T20s when you have just 15-18 balls. It is hard to hit from ball one in these conditions. In the domestic competition, they were also scoring runs. If they get more opportunities, they will perform and give their best for the team. (On now travelling to St. Lucia) That is the beauty of playing franchise cricket, you have an idea about the wicket. Most of the guys, like Nabi, Gurbaz played in St. Lucia and we have to share that experience with the guys who have not played much (there). It is about playing your natural cricket in those conditions. We will not change our brand of cricket, and it is about how we will play that brand in those conditions. Everyone has that ability to adjust to the conditions quickly and hopefully we will have a good game there as well.

Assad Vala, Papua New Guinea captain: They are a really good bowling team and to give them four easy wickets with four run-outs, especially my run-out, that was a bit lazy. (On assessing the conditions) It has been challenging for every team. We spoke about trying to give ourselves a chance and then launch at the end, something we learnt from Rutherford the other day. We could not execute unfortunately but they bowled well too. I am really happy with the way the bowlers have been going. We have not put up enough runs for them to defend. The execution of their skills and their planning has been really good. Ale has been good with the new ball, Kamea bowled beautifully. We created a few opportunities but we could not hold on. It is a challenge, getting the exposure against quality quick bowlers. We do not face these bowlers in Associate cricket.

Fazalhaq Farooqi, Player of the Match: I want to congratulate the entire team because we have now officially qualified (for the Super Eight). I feel proud. Before the warm-up match, I was in the IPL. I did not get any chances there unfortunately. I played just one warm-up game. I know how to carry my body and I just tried to keep it simple. I try to get some wickets if there is some movement or swing. If there is nothing, then I try to go to plan B, not go for boundaries and keep it simple. We have to give our 100% and we will try our best to do it in the last match as well. (On Rashid trying to interrupt him during this interview) He is trying to make me laugh but I am not laughing (smiles).

11:32pm Afghanistan and the West Indies. The two teams that will be going through from Group C into the Super Eight. After their respective performances against New Zealand, that seemed the likely outcome and Afghanistan, at the first time of asking, set that in stone.

This chase turned out to be a lot trickier than they would have anticipated. However, they will be happy that their middle order spent some time out in the middle, even thwarting off a bit of early PNG pressure. Naib walked in to bat in the second over and was there at the end, remaining unbeaten on 49. He took his time at the start but showcased his full range of strokes as his knock progressed. Omarzai and Nabi also played useful cameos, and that ensured Afghanistan got past the finish line comfortably.

As for PNG, they showed a lot of heart and fight with the ball. Their bowlers gave it their all but they just did not have enough runs on the board. Kamea, Nao and Vanua picked up a wicket each, although they will go back to their hotel rooms tonight thinking what could have been had they put up a few more runs on the board.

15.1
6
Soper to Gulbadin Naib, SIX, Naib finishes it off in style, and Afghanistan are into the Super Eight! New Zealand, on the other hand, have been knocked out! Into Naib's hitting arc and he does not miss out on the chance to seal it with a six. Goes through the line and pumps it over the bowler's head. A seven-wicket win to further assert their dominance and Afghanistan have been full value for this win!

Soper to bowl what should be the last over of the game

END OF OVER:
15 | 13 Runs | AFG: 95/3 (1 run required from 30 balls, RR: 6.33, RRR: 0.20)

  • Gulbadin Naib43 (35b)
  • Mohammad Nabi16 (23b)
  • Alei Nao4-0-26-1
  • John Kariko3-0-15-0
14.6
1b
Nao to Gulbadin Naib, 1 bye, that rolls along the ground! Slower ball on a length outside off. Naib advances and has a huge mow at it. Misses it by a distance because the ball barely gets up. The keeper then has a wild shy at the stumps and misses, giving up an overthrow in the process
14.5
1
Nao to Mohammad Nabi, 1 run, low full toss on middle and leg. Nabi taps it towards short mid wicket, who misfields and ends up conceding a single
14.4
1
Nao to Gulbadin Naib, 1 run, length outside off. Naib marches down the track and punches it past extra cover

Four needed now. Can Naib finish it off with one blow?

14.3
2
Nao to Gulbadin Naib, 2 runs, full on middle and off. Nabi gets onto the front foot and flicks it enough to long on's right to pick up two

Afghanistan one big hit away from the Super Eight

14.2
2
Nao to Gulbadin Naib, 2 runs, full outside off. Naib comes forward and chips it over mid on for a couple of runs

Just eight needed now

14.1
6
Nao to Gulbadin Naib, SIX, that is right out of the screws! Half-tracker outside off and Naib pounces. Opens up his front hip and whacks it over the deep mid wicket fence!

Nao to bowl out

END OF OVER:
14 | 6 Runs | AFG: 82/3 (14 runs required from 36 balls, RR: 5.85, RRR: 2.33)

  • Mohammad Nabi15 (22b)
  • Gulbadin Naib32 (30b)
  • John Kariko3-0-15-0
  • Norman Vanua3-0-18-1
13.6
0
Kariko to Mohammad Nabi, no run, into the blockhole outside off. Nabi chalks it back to the bowler
13.5
0
Kariko to Mohammad Nabi, no run, full on middle and off. Nabi stabs it back to the bowler
13.4
1
Kariko to Gulbadin Naib, 1 run, short and wide outside off. Naib chops it towards deep cover point
13.3
1
Kariko to Mohammad Nabi, 1 run, given plenty of air on a very full length outside off. Nabi squeezes it out to deep cover point
13.2
0
Kariko to Mohammad Nabi, no run, floated up fuller on off. Nabi comes forward and pokes it towards extra cover
13.1
4
Kariko to Mohammad Nabi, FOUR, lovely! Tossed up outside off and this is into Nabi's hitting arc. He stretches forward to get close enough to the ball and caresses it over extra cover!

Kariko to continue

END OF OVER:
13 | 8 Runs | AFG: 76/3 (20 runs required from 42 balls, RR: 5.84, RRR: 2.85)

  • Mohammad Nabi10 (17b)
  • Gulbadin Naib31 (29b)
  • Norman Vanua3-0-18-1
  • John Kariko2-0-9-0
12.6
1
Vanua to Mohammad Nabi, 1 run, hard length on middle and off. Nabi shapes for the pull but ends up clothing it towards deep square leg
12.5
1
Vanua to Gulbadin Naib, 1 run, length just outside off. Naib pushes it towards mid off and dashes across to the other end
12.4
0
Vanua to Gulbadin Naib, no run, into the blockhole outside off. Naib, in trying to dig it out, chunks it back into his pads

Sumit Borhade: "So NZ are out as Afg are inching closer to victory?" -- NZ will be eliminated if Afghanistan win

12.3
1
Vanua to Mohammad Nabi, 1 run, length ball on the pads. Nabi glances it away towards fine leg
12.2
1
Vanua to Gulbadin Naib, 1 run, fullish just outside off. Naib walks down the track and flicks it towards deep square leg
12.1
4
Vanua to Gulbadin Naib, FOUR, make that 24 needed off 47! Dug into the track on off stump. Sits up nicely for Naib and he rolls his wrists to pull it past deep square leg!

Kumar : "AFG playing it safe by rotating the strike. PNG should bring in close fielders to stop singles." -- Could be a ploy. PNG have nothing to lose really. 28 needed off 48 now

END OF OVER:
12 | 3 Runs | AFG: 68/3 (28 runs required from 48 balls, RR: 5.66, RRR: 3.50)

  • Mohammad Nabi8 (15b)
  • Gulbadin Naib25 (25b)
  • John Kariko2-0-9-0
  • Chad Soper2-0-13-0
11.6
0
Kariko to Mohammad Nabi, no run, darted in on a back of a length on leg stump. Nabi pops it off the leading edge towards the bowler. On the bounce, though
11.5
0
Kariko to Mohammad Nabi, no run, slowed up on a length on middle and off. Bounces more than Nabi anticipations and hits him on the glove

Afghanistan 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st8Ibrahim ZadranRahmanullah Gurbaz
2nd14Gulbadin NaibRahmanullah Gurbaz
3rd33Gulbadin NaibAzmatullah Omarzai
4th46Mohammad NabiGulbadin Naib

ICC Men's T20 World Cup

Super Eights, Group 1
TeamMWLPTNRR
IND33062.017
AFG3214-0.305
AUS3122-0.331
BAN3030-1.709
Super Eights, Group 2
TeamMWLPTNRR
SA33060.599
ENG32141.992
WI31220.963
USA3030-3.906
Group A
TeamMWLPTNRR
IND43071.137
USA42150.127
PAK42240.294
CAN4123-0.493
IRE4031-1.293
Group B
TeamMWLPTNRR
AUS44082.791
ENG42153.611
SCOT42151.255
NAM4132-2.585
OMA4040-3.062
Group C
TeamMWLPTNRR
WI44083.257
AFG43161.835
NZ42240.415
UGA4132-4.51
PNG4040-1.268
Group D
TeamMWLPTNRR
SA44080.47
BAN43160.616
SL41230.863
NED4132-1.358
NEP4031-0.542