5 highlights from Afghanistan's convincing win over PNG

Farooqi at it again

Fazalhaq Farooqi is having a phenomenal 2024 T20 World Cup. The left-arm seamer dismissed Lega Siaka and Sese Bau off consecutive deliveries in the third over and rocked Papua New Guinea (PNG) early in the first innings.

Farooqi, who is currently the leading wicket-taker in the competition, now has seven wickets in the powerplay at an average of 4.9 - the best for any bowler with at least six wickets in the powerplay in a single T20WC campaign.

Kiplin Doriga shows some fight

PNG lost their first seven wickets for just 50 runs and it looked like they would get bundled out for a total close to 60. Kiplin Doriga (32-ball 27), however, put up some sort of a fight and took the Barramundis close to the 100-run mark.

The wicketkeeper-batter added 38 runs with Alei Nao (13) for the eighth wicket. Doriga was the only PNG batter to cross the 15-run mark as they were bowled out for 95 in 19.5 overs. 

Too many run-outs

Assad Vala, Chad Soper, Norman Vanua and Semo Kamea - there were a total of four run-outs in the PNG innings, which certainly did not help their cause.

Afghanistan’s openers fail for the first time

154 against Uganda and 103 against New Zealand - Afghanistan openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran came into this match having added 100-plus runs in the first two games. 

However, the two got out inside three overs against PNG. While Zadran was knocked over by Semo Kamea for a golden duck, Gurbaz fell to Alei Nao for 11. 

Give No. 3 spot to Naib

Chasing a target of 96, Afghanistan lost their openers with 22 runs on the board, but that’s when Gulbadin Naib, who walked out to bat at No. 3, stepped up and finished the job.

The right-hander smashed 49* off 36 deliveries and completed the chase in 15.1 overs to send his team to the Super 8s. In T20Is, Naib has now batted at No. 3 on eight occasions and has scored 254 runs @ 50.8 and a strike rate of 147.7.

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