Afghanistan registered a clinical 7-wicket win over the Netherlands in the World Cup 2023 match at Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow. It was Afghanistan’s third win in a row and fourth overall in the ongoing tournament and as they moved up to the fifth spot on the points table. The defeat has put Netherlands’s chance into the semifinal in jeopardy.
Afghanistan dismissed the Netherlands for a below-par score of 179 and chased down the target in 31.3 overs. Rahmat Shah and Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi scored 52 off 54 balls and 56 not out off 64 balls, respectively. Opting to bat, Sybrand Engelbrecht made a 86-ball 58 to emerge as the top-scorer, while Max ODowd (42) and Colin Ackermann (29) also chipped in with useful runs but the Dutch suffered a collapse to end with a low total.
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Mohammad Nabi was the pick of the bowlers for Afghanistan with three scalps, while young Noor Ahmad claimed a couple.
Meanwhile, only India have managed to qualify for the semi-final thus far and the race for the other three spots are wide open. India have won seven matches in a row and are the only unbeaten side.
South Africa are in second place in the points table, with 12 points from seven matches, and look favourites for the second semifinal place.
Australia are in third place with 8 points from six matches, having won their previous four games, and look favourites for the third semifinal spot.
New Zealand’s drop in form has made the fourth semifinal spot one to grab as the Kiwis have lost three matches in a row. Once they were fighting it off with India for the top spot, but after losing to India, the Black Caps have lost to Australia and South Africa, as they slipped to fourth place.
The win over Netherlands has helped Afghanistan pip Pakistan as they are now placed at fifth while the Babar Azam and Co. are sixth with 6 points.
Sri Lanka have dropped to seventh place, they have just four points from seven games, with NRR of -1.162, and they have two games remaining but they will also need other sides to drop points for them to make it into the semifinals.
Despite the loss on Friday, Netherlands remained intact on the eighth spot on the points table.
Bangladesh are ninth, they have two points from seven matches, and they will hope to push to finish in the top seven places to reach the Champions Trophy. Similarly, England are rock bottom, they have just two points but with three games in hand, their aim will also be to remain in the race for the Champions Trophy.
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