AFG VS NAM - 27th Match, Super 12 Group 2, ICC Mens T20 World Cup 2021

Asghar Afghan could have timed his retirement better but then it is such a personal call and his team did really well to ensure they provide him the best possible farewell. The batters started off on the fast lanes, then they derailed a bit before a final hurrah propelled them to 160. Once they had that, their bowlers just choked the opposition batting. The seamers for a change came to the party. Hamid bowled really quick and that was too hot to handle. Naib bowled disciplined line and Naveen bowled a barrage of slower balls to fox the batter almost every time. That is it from game number 27! Game number 28 promises some more thrill as India take on the Kiwis. Hop tabs and enjoy! Bubye from all of us here.

Mohammad Nabi | Winning captain: The boys have had good morale in the team. We do discuss during team meetings that we might chase at times as well. I tell the openers to go and play their game. Just go and enjoy your cricket. We are always depending on spinners but we have some quality seamers as well. Hamid bowled brilliantly today. Last night, he (Asghar Afghan) told me that tomorrow would be my last game and I was shocked. It was his decision. He has captained the side for almost 6-7 years. He was very consistent with his captaincy in T20Is. He had already decided that tomorrow will be my last game.

Gerhald Erasmus | Losing captain: A bowling attack like that would have been tough and we knew that. First game here and the grass was cut off for some reasons. They got away with the bat as we leaked a few runs in the PP. A few partnerships stretched deep for them. The pitch didn't change much. We tried to chase but their quality showed. The quality in the attack and in their country is wonderful. We are aware of the challenges. We need to make use of this level. This is a stepping stone for the future.

A final word from Asghar Afghan - It was an important win for us, he bowled really well (on Naveen-ul-Haq), used his variations extremely well on this wicket. Thanks to the fans for all the support given to the team so far and hope that it'll continue throughout the tournament

Naveen-ul-Haq, Player of the Match - [He wants to dedicate it to Asghar Afghan and presents him the trophy] This was the first time I used the new-ball, so I had a look at the wicket and thought variations would be the key. It's special to play in front of fans and I want to thank them for supporting us. He is the best captain Afghanistan has ever produced (on Asghar), he has done a lot for our cricket, his name will be etched in the annals of our history and he'll be missed a lot by all of us. 

17:28 Local Time, 13:28 GMT, 18:58 IST: Naib uses those strong muscles and has Asghar on his shoulders and carries him almost to the boundary line. More hugs and handshakes for the veteran. He has been a wonderful ambassador for Afghanistan cricket. A journey of almost 12 years has ended today. A journey which has witnessed so many red letter days for the Afghanistan cricket team has ended on a happy note as well. Afghanistan reached 160 and once they did that they always had Namibia under some serious pressure. The pressure showed as well and Namibian batters fell like ninepins. They had no one standing up to this world class bowling attack which was without Mujeeb. But Naveen, Naib and Hamid bowled with a lot of intent and bowled cleverly enough to fox the batters. Hang on for the presentation or you can catch a quick glimpse by switching tabs as India take on the Kiwis in a little while from now.

Stat: Eight wickets this innings is the most by Afghanistan pacers in a T20 match. They have taken seven wickets in an innings twice previously.
Lowest T20I totals for Namibia
96 vs Net Dubai 2019
98 vs Afg Abu Dhabi 2021
96 vs SL Abu Dhabi 2021
108 vs Ire Dubai 2019

Karim Janat to Ruben Trumpelmann, 1 run, and that's the win for Afghanistan! A few hugs for Asghar Afghan from his wards as he signs off from international cricket. That was a length delivery and Ruben Trumpelmann dragged it across the line for a single. A win by 82 runs for Afghanistan gives more facelift to their NRR

Karim Janat to Scholtz, 1 run, and a misfield allows the single as the man at point lets it through his legs. Another slower delivery and was chopped out into the off-side

Karim Janat to Scholtz, no run, short, outside off, Scholtz looks to throw his bat at it and misses

Karim Janat to Ruben Trumpelmann, 1 run, fuller length and Ruben Trumpelmann gets it down the ground for a single

Karim Janat to Scholtz, 1 run, drags a length delivery down to long-on for a single

Karim Janat to Scholtz, no run, chops the cut down and ends up finding the man at point

Karim Janat [1.0-0-7-0] is back into the attack

Naveen-ul-Haq to Ruben Trumpelmann, no run, slower length delivery, Ruben Trumpelmann looks to drag it across the line and misses

Naveen-ul-Haq to Ruben Trumpelmann, no run, slower bumper and Ruben Trumpelmann pulls that down to deep square. No runs there

Naveen-ul-Haq to Ruben Trumpelmann, no run, dropped short, slower, Ruben Trumpelmann powers that to long-off and rejects the single

Naveen-ul-Haq to Ruben Trumpelmann, FOUR, goes for the yorker and misses for the batter to power it down the ground for a four. He hit it into the ground and hit it hard enough for the ball to go over the bowler and in to the fence well past mid-off

Naveen-ul-Haq to Ruben Trumpelmann, FOUR, gets hold of a slower delivery which was well outside off and Ruben Trumpelmann slams that between deep mid and long-on for a four

Naveen-ul-Haq to Scholtz, 1 run, backs away and pats the ball out into the off-side for a single