Afghanistan v Bangladesh: T20 World Cup 2024 – live | T20 World Cup 2024

12th over: Bangladesh 82-7 (Litton 37, Tanzim 1) The match has been well and truly shaken up during a rain delay. Afghanistan will now like their chances of securing a semi-final berth with only three wickets to grab and after edging ahead on the DLS par score. But Bangladesh can hold onto some hope of upsetting their rivals at least while Litton Das is still at the crease.

We’re back again but Bangladesh are now out of the running for a semi-final spot, with their goal now to win for pride and have a say in whether Afghanistan or Australia progresses to the next stage.

The target has been reduced to 114 runs (DLS) but Bangladesh only have a total of 19 overs to face.

The covers are back on and as it stands Afghanistan are going through to the semi-finals if play does not resume.

Bangladesh are now 81-7 from 11.4 overs but that leaves them two runs behind Afghanistan’s par score.

The call went out from the Afghanistan bench to slow the game down just as the rain started to fall, which sent Gulbadin Naib tumbling down at first slip like an arrow had struck him in the hamstring. It was a horrible piece of acting all round, and just the sort of thing that Mother Cricket tends not to like.

David Williams, in Canada, doesn’t seem to mind it:

“Not sure what is the funniest. The sudden hamstring injury while it’s raining and they’re ahead, or two Aussies on TV lecturing about the spirit of cricket. Johnny Bairstow would like a word …”

11th over: Bangladesh 80-7 (Litton 36, Tanzim 0) Afghanistan have edged back in front as their skipper claims two crucial wickets to now have 4-17 from three overs.

Rashid Khan makes it two in two with a ripping wrong’un that Rishad Hossain was not even close to picking up. The tide has turned!

Another twist in tale of this high-stakes clash as Rashid finds the faintest of edges off the inside of Mahmudullah’s bat. It takes convincing from the substitute keeper Mohammad Ishaq to send the decision for review, but it’s the right call as Afghanistan are back in the game.

10th over: Bangladesh 77-5 (Litton 34, Mahmudullah 5) That’s drinks and this match – and the semi-final hopes of Bangladesh, Afghanistan and even Australia – feels evenly poised. Noor Ahmad bowls five dot balls but Mahmudullah finds a boundary with a stylish drive through cover.

Bangladesh need 39 runs from 13 balls to qualify for to the semi-finals.

9th over: Bangladesh 73-5 (Litton 34, Mahmudullah 1) The margins are getting finer for both sides – as well as Australia watching on – as Rashid Khan picks up the wicket of Towhid Hridoy but Litton Das remains the batter who looks like deciding more than just this game. The opener pounds a four down the ground then follows up next ball by easing a clever boundary at third man.

The Afghanistan skipper has a second as Hridoy looks to hit him out of the park but fails to get enough on his shot and is caught at deep midwicket.

8th over: Bangladesh 63-4 (Litton 26, Hridoy 14) The script flips again as Afghanistan show worrying signs of falling apart in the field. Hridoy gets a thick edge of Nabi and the ball flies sky-high, Farooqi gets under it but can’t hold onto the ball. Hridoy makes Afghanistan pay with back-to-back boundaries of the next two balls, the first from another top edge, then next from a more convincing slog sweep.

7th over: Bangladesh 51-4 (Litton 26, Hridoy 2) Rashid Khan brings Afghanistan right back into the game with a typically crafty over that includes a critical wicket. Bangladesh seem content to see off the spin magician’s remaining three balls, looking for singles while bringing up their fifty.

Bangladesh are currently four runs ahead on the DLS par score of 47 – but crucially that is only to win the match, not to progress to the semi-finals.

Rashid Khan waits until the end of the powerplay before taking the ball then finds a way through Soumya Sarkar. The Bangladesh batter gets on the back foot but can’t get his bat down in time to a quicker delivery as he loses his stumps.

6th over: Bangladesh 46-3 (Litton 24, Sarkar 10) Afghanistan introduce spin for the first time in the innings as Mohammad Nabi marks out his run up. The veteran tweaker has both batters all tied up, only allowing three singles from a tidy over. Bangladesh end the powerplay with their eyes still very much on snatching a semi-final berth, now needing 70 runs in 37 balls or fewer to leapfrog both Afghanistan and Australia into second spot.

5th over: Bangladesh 43-3 (Litton 22, Sarkar 9) In good news – at least for Australia – we will now have a result out of this contest rather than Afghanistan edging through to the semi-finals if the points were shared. Bangladesh have started brightly since the heavens opened up, Litton Das uppercutting a wide ball over point for four. But Naveen-ul-Haq restricts the opener either side of that shot to only give up three more.

4th over: Bangladesh 36-3 (Litton 15, Sarkar 9) A reasonably long rain delay has only added more spice to this contest. Bangladesh pick up 12 runs in the over, either side of the break, even with only one boundary as Sarkar sends a straight delivery away through midwicket.

We’re back! And we still haven’t lost any time – or overs. But if there is another rain delay, the runs required and overs available to get them in will start to reduce.

The ground staff look to have done a splendid job clearing the field and Fazalhaq Farooqi is set to renew his battle with Litton Das

Play is set to resume at 11:43pm local time (1:43pm AEST, 4:43am BST)

Bangladesh are currently just ahead on the DLS score, with Afghanistan’s par score after 3.2 overs on 29-3. But that is for Bangladesh to win the match, not to qualify for the semi-finals, and they still need to face five overs for this to be considered a result.

If we only get to five overs, Bangladesh need to have reached 35-3 to keep their noses in front, though that would hand the semi-final spot to Australia and no doubt break more than just Afghanistan hearts.

Rain has returned and the covers are back on. Any loss of overs will make it trickier for Bangladesh to reach their target quickly enough to give their net run-rate the required boost, but after a couple of minutes of heavy showers it has started to lighten up.

Bangladesh are 31-3 from 3.2 overs, at this stage still needing another 85 runs within 52 balls to set up a semi-final clash with South Africa – reaching their target in any more than that will see Australia progress.

But with rain falling it feels more and more like Mother Cricket is siding with Afghanistan today.

3rd over: Bangladesh 24-3 (Litton 13, Sarkar 1) The Afghanistan seamers have once again turned the match in their side’s favour as Bangladesh lose a couple of wickets in an over. Their hopes are resting more and more on Litton Das’s shoulders now.

Two in two balls for Naveen-ul-Haq and Afghanistan are quickly back on top! Shakib Al Hasan looks to work the ball on the on-side but gets a leading edge straight back to the bowler and is gone for a golden duck.

Najmul Hossain Shanto is not interested in hanging around, attacking Naveen at every opportunity and quickly paying a high price. After smacking a boundary over midwicket the Bangladesh captain looks to repeat the shot, but gets around it more the next time to pick out Mohammad Nabi at deep square leg for a simple catch.

2nd over: Bangladesh 18-1 (Litton 13, Najmul 1) Fazalhaq Farooqi gets the breakthrough as Bangladesh make their intentions clear, swinging hard at most deliveries even as the Afghanistan quick finds a tight line.

Fazalhaq Farooqi comes in around the wicket and an in-swinger strikes Tanzid Hasan on the thigh pad as the left-hander looks to hit across the line. The umpire raises the finger, Tanzid calls for a review with barely a second remaining on the clock, but replays show it would have taken out the top of middle stump. Fazalhaq again has the most wickets in the tournament, now with 16.

1st over: Bangladesh 13-0 (Litton 11, Tanzid 0) What a start for Bangladesh as they look to chase down 116 runs in 12.1 overs or fewer! A stroke of good luck helps get them moving as Litton Das swings hard through a drive, takes a thick edge over slip and the ball only needs one bounce to clear the rope. The opener connects sweetly with the next delivery, clobbering it over midwicket for a glorious SIX! Afghanistan’s worries are mounting up as keeper Gurbaz cops a heavy blow on his knee trying to block the last ball of the innings. He looks in significant discomfort and is helped from the field. Little is going right for Afghanistan at the moment, but they can at least keep looking to the skies for some timely assistance.

Litton Das takes guard with Tanzid Hasan at the other end for Bangladesh. Naveen-ul-Haq has the ball in his hand and will be looking to do similar damage to what he inflicted on Australia just two days ago. Lessssgoooo!

Play is about to resume in this tense, high-stakes, must-watch encounter between Afghanistan and Bangladesh.

The scenarios are still the same – Bangladesh reaching 116 runs in 12.1 overs will see them through, more than 12.4 overs (it’s complication) will bring joy for Australia.

But Afghanistan just need to defend their target to progress to the semi-finals.

David Bertram has enjoyed what he has seen, and rightly so, but doesn’t seem quite as elated with what he expects to happen from here:

“Evening, England fan. Fair play to the cricket bodies, giving associate teams time to develop has been a great call. Trott has done a great job and the more tight and tricky games we see the better. We all know the Australian team will get through and win mind. It’s what they do. David”

The covers are off and we’re now waiting for play to resume, as well as news on any recalculation of the required runs for Bangladesh and overs they might need to get them in. We haven’t lost too much time though, so hopefully there is no change yet.

In the meantime, here is Rashid Khan fuming as Karim Janat is too slow to take a second run and leaves his heavy-hitting skipper stranded at the non striker’s end in the last over of the Afghanistan innings.

Afghanistan crawled to 115-5 to leave the door open for Bangladesh to snatch a spot in the semi-final – or for Australia to pick up the scraps.

Bangladesh will go through to the knockout stages if they reach their 116-run target in 12.1 overs or fewer, though they can also take three more balls if settling on the same score as Afghanistan then hitting the winning runs with a six.

Australia will qualify for the semi-finals if Bangladesh chase down their target but in more than 12.1 (or 12.4) overs.

Afghanistan’s preferred scenario is the same as when we started – win and they’re in!

But Rashid Khan’s side have a new pathway opening up, as rain starts to fall between innings and the covers are on. A washout would of course mean one point for each team, and be enough to lift Afghanistan into second spot. This has been a mouth-watering contest so far with the stakes sky high, so let’s at least hope for any outcome other than that.

While we wait for play to resume, enjoy Rashid’s glorious six to end the Afghanistan innings.

Rashid Khan unleashes in the last over as Afghanistan add 15 valuable runs to reach 115-5. He starts with an uppercut over point for six, then picks up a single with a leading edge. But Rashid was looking for two to get back on strike, and when Janat doesn’t respond in time his skipper goes wild and throws his bat in his teammate’s direction. Janat sheepishly hands the willow back mid-pitch, but Rashid is still fuming as he makes his way back to the non striker’s end. Rashid gets back on strike for the last ball of the innings and sends it almost out of the ground with a monster six.

19th over: Afghanistan 100-5 (Janat 5, Rashid 6) Only one run from the second last over of the innings as Mustafizur’s variation and tight line has Afghanistan struggling. The seamer finishes with 1-17.

18th over: Afghanistan 99-5 (Janat 4, Rashid 6) Another wicket and not enough runs have Afghanistan in all sorts. Rashid Khan comes out swinging and sends the last ball of the over sailing past midwicket for a huge six. A harsh ending for Taskin Ahmed who finishes with 1-12 from four overs.

Taskin Ahmed gets his reward for what has been a fine and fiery spell. The Bangladesh quick has enjoyed digging the ball in short, Mohammad Nabi tries to cut one that drifts a touch wider but a top edge takes it high for a simple catch at mid-off.

17th over: Afghanistan 93-4 (Janat 4, Nabi 1) Two wickets in an over has put Bangladesh firmly on top. Their young leg-spinner Rishad Hossain finishes with 3-26, even as Karim Janat clatters the last ball of the over through cover for four.

Soumya Sarkar takes a brilliant catch and it is his second in the over. Naib looks to lift the run-rate but gets a leading edge, ballooning the ball over cover. Souyma comes flying off the boundary and makes up plenty of ground to get two hands under the ball and ensure Bangladesh are on top.

Bangladesh get the wicket they would have wanted as Gurbaz holds out in the deep. The opener had been tied down since drinks and looked to finally unleash but can’t get enough on it. He departs after scoring 43 from 55 balls.

16th over: Afghanistan 88-2 (Gurbaz 43, Naib 4) CHAOS! Gurbaz starts the over cutting and sets off straight away until Rishad dives to gather the ball and have a ping at the stumps. The Afghanistan batters are stuck at the same end but the fielder backing up misfields and even after more confusion they somehow find a single. But Mustafizur makes amends with a top edge off Omarzai. Gulbadin Naib comes to the crease with Afghanistan needing him to repeat his heroics from two days ago, just this time with the bat, and he plunders his first ball faced straight down the ground for four.

A faint edge gets the breakthrough after keeper Litton Das seems to be the only fielder to hear it. Omarzai tries to cut away a wide one but misses, the umpire knocks back the appeal and it goes upstairs as replays show there was the slightest of touches off the bat. Afghanistan might not mind that though, as they need some heavy hitters at the crease.

15th over: Afghanistan 80-1 (Gurbaz 40, Omarzai 9) Another chance goes begging as Omarzai gets a leading edge and the ball sails just wide of Shakib. The veteran barely had time to throw an arm out after completing his delivery stride, that was a tough one to take.

14th over: Afghanistan 75-1 (Gurbaz 39, Omarzai 5) CHANCE! Rishad has switched ends and Omarzai looks to turn the tables off the first delivery, swinging hard but only slicing the ball sky-high. A Bangladesh fielder comes flying off the boundary at deep cover, dives forward at full speed but can’t quite get hands to the ball. The pressure is all on Afghanistan, at least until Gurbaz finds the first boundary for 39 deliveries through point. The opener ends the over with another four when finding a gap with a sweep.

13th over: Afghanistan 62-1 (Gurbaz 29, Omarzai 2) Shakib takes the ball from Rashid as Bangladesh refuse to let the Afghanistan batters settle. The veteran is keeping a straight line and cramping up the batters, but Omarzai finds the first run in 13 deliveries with a dab to long-off.

12th over: Afghanistan 59-1 (Gurbaz 28, Omarzai 0) Maiden! Taskin Ahmed returns to turn the screws on Afghanistan, as Gurbaz plays with a watchful eye and the Bangladesh fielders are scampering around to keep the opener on strike. Afghanistan have only scored 1-1 since the drinks break.

11th over: Afghanistan 59-1 (Gurbaz 28, Omarzai 0) One almost brings two as Rishad beats Ibrahim with flight and dip, then almost has Azmatullah Omarzai out stumped a couple of balls later. A sublime delivery dips and turns to beat the outside edge, Litton Das collects and quickly lifts the bails but the new batter has just kept his foot grounded behind the line.

The leg-spinner breaks up Afghanistan’s formidable opening pair and once again it comes in the over immediately after drinks. Ibrahim looks to hit Rishad down the ground but the turn takes the ball away from him and the shot is sliced high into the air. Tanzim has to make up plenty of ground at deep long off but takes a fine catch while keeping his feet.

10th over: Afghanistan 58-0 (Gurbaz 27, Ibrahim 18) Mustafizur takes the ball as Bangladesh swing the changes looking for a prized wicket before the drinks break. The pacer sends down a tidy over but without getting the crucial breakthrough. Bangladesh have restricted the flow of runs but the missed chance from Hridoy already feels costly as Afghanistan will carry all 10 wickets into the second half of their innings with the match evenly poised.

9th over: Afghanistan 54-0 (Gurbaz 25, Ibrahim 16) Another 50-run stand for the Afghanistan opening pair, their fourth for the tournament – that is now the most ever recorded by the same batters in a single men’s T20 World Cup. Young leg-spinner Rishad Hossain comes into the attack for Bangladesh but Gurbaz is in cruise control now, working the ball through midwicket for two then finding a gap in the same area to bring up the fifty.

8th over: Afghanistan 47-0 (Gurbaz 22, Ibrahim 15) Bangladesh are letting Afghanistan off the hook here as the openers find ones and twos without having to take too many risks. Tanzim loses his length and digs in a bouncer that hits the deck mid-pitch, sailing over Gurbaz and the keeper for five wides. The batters are having a big say in turning the match though, with their blazing running between wickets putting the fielders under as much pressure as the bowlers. Ominous signs for Bangladesh – and Australia – at the moment!

7th over: Afghanistan 36-0 (Gurbaz 19, Ibrahim 12) SIX! Gurbaz clobbers the first maximum of the match, dancing down the pitch and hitting Shakib back over his head. The Bangladesh veteran threw that one up and it was duly dispatched, far from the ideal end to a tidy over that had only allowed the Afghanistan openers to dab a few singles.

6th over: Afghanistan 27-0 (Gurbaz 12, Ibrahim 10) The opening pair are crucially still at the crease but this is Afghanistan’s lowest score through the powerplay as they make a cautious start with eyes on a bigger prize. Mustafizur Rahman starts with a neat over, five dot balls but is punished for the one looser delivery that Gurbaz pulls away for four.

5th over: Afghanistan 23-0 (Gurbaz 8, Ibrahim 10) DROPPED! That will hurt for Australia as much as Bangladesh.

Shakib Al Hasan comes into the attack and almost has an immediate impact, but Towhid Hridoy can’t hold onto the smoking hot chance. Ibrahim steps onto the back foot to smack a forehand through the covers, the shot flies straight to Hridoy standing at about short cover mostly looking to save a single, but it quickly bounces in and out of his hands.

Will Afghanistan make Bangladesh pay for sloppy fielding, just as they did to Australia a couple of days ago?

4th over: Afghanistan 21-0 (Gurbaz 7, Ibrahim 9) Another tasty over from Taskin, hitting the deck hard, beating the bat but failing to get the much-needed breakthrough for Bangladesh. Gurbaz steps down the pitch and swings wildly but gets nowhere near a shorter ball, not sure Taskin saw him coming though. Some fast and furious running between wickets helps the openers pick up a pair of twos, as they patiently build the innings.

3rd over: Afghanistan 16-0 (Gurbaz 3, Ibrahim 8) Ibrahim clatters the first boundary of the innings, lifting a good length ball in the air but safely through cover. A bouncer from Tanzim has plenty of pace but pitches a touch too short and sails over both Ibrahim and the keeper for four byes.

2nd over: Afghanistan 5-0 (Gurbaz 3, Ibrahim 1) A ripping over from Taskin Ahmed! The pacer digs it in a touch short and finds movement off the pitch, beats the bat a couple of times and lets out a frustrated scream. A slower ball gets through Ibrahim and bounces off keeper Litton Das’ pads to end a thrilling over.

1st over: Afghanistan 3-0 (Gurbaz 2, Ibrahim 1) Almost the perfect start for Bangladesh (and Australia)! Gurbaz plays tip-and-run off the first ball and only a desperate dive gets him home at the non striker’s end. The umpire sent it upstairs for a quick review but Gurbaz is quick and had his horizontal bat well across the crease as the bails were raised. Just as they did when setting up their 118-run stand against Australia two days ago, the opening pair are content biding their time through the opening over. A misfield releases some of the pressure and allows Ibrahim off strike.

Afghanistan openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran make their way to the crease after a 118-run stand that set up the stirring win over Australia.

Much of this match will ride on how the pair of in-form 22 year olds perform today, but it is Tanzim Hasan Sakib that has the ball in his hands and looking to have his own say for Bangladesh. Game on!

Litton Das (wk), Tanzid Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto (capt), Towhid Hridoy, Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmudullah, Soumya Sarkar, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Mustafizur Rahman.

Two changes for Bangladesh – fiery quick Taskin Ahmed returns with Soumya Sarkar also getting his shot.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Karim Janat, Nangeyalia Kharote, Rashid Khan (capt), Noor Ahmad, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi.

No need to mess with a winning formula, as Afghanistan back in the same XI that were so impressive in their historic victory over Australia two days ago.

Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan has little hesitation in batting first at a ground that has seen all four matches at this tournament won by the side doing just that.

Najmul Hossain Shanto seems happy to lose the toss, saying that Bangladesh were planning to bowl first anyway. No shame in now saying that either way.

Australia now need a huge slice of good fortune to keep their T20 World Cup hopes alive after falling 24 runs short of India’s 205-5 in St Lucia earlier today.

India opener Rohit Sharma clobbered 92 from 41 balls to set up the win, though Travis Head (76) and captain Mitch Marsh (37) gave Australia some chance of reaching their target until they lost 54-5 and staggered to 181-7.

Read the full report:

Hello and welcome to the OBO live coverage of the crunch clash between Afghanistan and Bangladesh at the 2024 T20 World Cup that will have major repercussions for Australia.

This is the last match of the Super Eight stage and the ICC could hardly have scripted it better. Both Afghanistan and Bangladesh are playing to join India in progressing from Group 1 to the semi-finals, while Australia will be watching on hoping the result falls their way to snatch the last spot even after back-to-back defeats.

The pathway to the knockout stage is clearest for Afghanistan after their historic victory over Australia. Another win for Rashid Khan’s side today – by any margin – would see Afghanistan book their ticket to take on South Africa in the knockout stages.

Australia’s 24-run defeat by India earlier today/overnight means their hopes are now out of their hands, but they could still progress with Bangladesh beating Afghanistan within a relatively large window of results.

Assuming a first innings total of 140 today, for Australia to qualify they would need Bangladesh batting first to win by fewer than 62 runs; or for Bangladesh batting second to chase down the same target in more than 12.4 overs.

The equation flips around for Bangladesh to claim the semi-final spot – bat first and win by 62 or more runs, bat second and reach a 141-run target in fewer than 12.4 overs.

India are already set to face England in the second semi-final in Providence on Thursday, while South Africa’s opponent for the semi-final in Tarouba on Wednesday will be decided within about four hours.

Play starts at Arnos Vale Ground in St Vincent at 8:30pm, or 10:30am AEST and 1:30am BST.

The toss and team news is coming shortly – but now is an ideal time to email your thoughts or get in touch on X @martinpegan.