In a thrilling cricket match at Lucknow's Ekana Cricket Stadium on November 3, Afghanistan secured a resounding victory against the Netherlands. Chasing a target of 180 runs, Afghanistan achieved their goal with seven wickets to spare and an impressive 111 balls remaining.

The Netherlands' bowlers, Logan van Beek and Roelof van der Merwe, initially made a dent in Afghanistan's batting lineup by dismissing openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran. However, Rahmat Shah and skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi formed a crucial partnership to stabilize the innings.

Rahmat Shah reached his half-century but was eventually dismissed by Saqib Zulfiqar. Hashmatullah Shahidi, the skipper, continued his exceptional form, scoring an unbeaten 56 and securing his 19th half-century in one-day internationals. He, along with Azmatullah Omarzai (31*), ensured Afghanistan's victory.

The Netherlands did manage to pick up some wickets, with Saqib Zulfiqar, Roelof van der Merwe, and Aryan Dutt each taking one wicket.

This victory catapulted Afghanistan to the 5th position on the ICC Points table with 8 points and a net run rate of (-)0.330, increasing their chances of reaching the World Cup 2023 semi-finals.

The key to their success lay in Afghanistan's spin bowlers, with Mohammad Nabi taking three wickets and Noor Ahmad contributing with two crucial wickets. The fielders were alert, causing four run-outs.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman provided an excellent start for Afghanistan by dismissing Netherlands opener Wesley Barresi early in the innings. The Netherlands tried to stabilize their innings, with Colin Ackermann and Max O'Dowd at the crease. However, Afghanistan's bowlers maintained their grip on the game, and Noor Ahmad struck again, leaving the Netherlands with just one wicket remaining.

Netherlands skipper Scott Edwards had won the toss and chosen to bat first, making this match crucial for both teams. Afghanistan, having already defeated three world champions in the ICC World Cup 2023 (England, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka), is on the path to potentially making it to the semi-finals, marking a remarkable journey for the underdog team in the tournament. The Afghanistan skipper, Hashmatullah Shahidi, is not only eyeing victories but also a good Net Run Rate, which could prove vital in securing their place in the top 4.

Picture Credits - Hindustan Times