AFG VS PNG - 29th Match, Group C, ICC Mens T20 World Cup 2024

Group C has been decided - West Indies and Afghanistan make it to the next round while New Zealand, who still have two games to play, are knocked out. The Kiwis needed PNG to win here to keep their chances alive but with the way Afghanistan have been playing that was a far cry. PNG have another game under their belt at the highest level and they will take that experience with them. That's all from this encounter. Until next time, goodbye and stay safe..

Rashid Khan | Afghanistan captain: Feeling great to qualifying for the next round. Great effort from the boys since game one. They know what they to do and have executed beautifully, making things easy for me. It is important to have someone like Gurbaz who goes out and takes on the bowling or Farooqi who picks up wickets in the powerplay. If the batter is attacking then as a bowler you have to attack too especially with pitches helping you. They (the openers) have given us good starts in the last two games and today was a good opportunity for the others to spend some time in the middle. We had a domestic competition before coming here and everyone are in form. That is the beauty of playing of franchise cricket as you know the conditions, some of them have played at St Lucia and know how the pitch will play which will help others. Everyone has the skill to adjust to any condition and hopefully we will win that game (against WI) as well.

Biggest win-margins for Afghanistan in T20Is (by balls remaining)
73 vs IRE, Dubai, 2017
59 vs SL, Dubai, 2022
32 vs ZIM, Sharjah, 2018
29 vs PNG, Tarouba, 2024
16 vs UAE, Edinburgh, 2015

Fazalhaq Farooqi | Player of the Match - I want to congratulate people of Afghanistan for qualifying to the Super 8, I think we've played some good cricket. I was in the IPL, unfortunately I didn't get a game, so I came here and gave myself the strength to come and perform. I have two plans while bowling - just get wickets if there's any swing or seam, if there's no movement, I just bowl in the right areas and keep it simple. We just need to give our 100% and do our best (in the Super 8).

Assad Vala | PNG captain: They are a really good bowling unit but gifting them four run outs was not acceptable. It has been challenging not just for us but for every team (batting on these pitches). We spoke about giving ourselves time and then launching later, something we learned from yesterday's game but they bowled really well. We have not put enough runs on the board for them to defend. The bowling department has been really good. We created some opportunities but could not hold on to those chances. We don't face this type of bowlers at the associate level and it is a challenge.

23:31 Local Time, 03:31 GMT, 09:01 IST: Another comprehensive victory for Afghanistan. There was never a doubt about them losing this game after the bowlers restricted PNG to 95. It was only a question of how many overs and credit to PNG for making it hard. Ibrahim and Gurbaz for the first time in the tournament departed cheaply which meant the others could spend some time in the middle. Naib and Omarzai added a small partnership before the latter got a stinker. The former carried on and saw Afghanistan over the line in the company of Nabi. The PNG pacers were disciplined and tried their best but they didn't have enough runs on the board, maybe another 30-40 would have made things interesting. Presentations coming up..

Chad Soper to Gulbadin, SIX, Afghanistan win by 7 wickets. With this win they qualify for the Super 8s while New Zealand are knocked out. Naib finishes with a biggie and then pumps his fist looking at the dugout. Before that he flexes his biceps in typical fashion. Full pitcher and Naib slams it straight down the ground. Not quite off the middle but enough to get it over the rope

Chad Soper [2.0-0-13-0] is back into the attack

Alei Nao to Gulbadin, byes, 1 run, that ball did not bounce. Naib wanted to finish it with a big hit, he steps out and looks to go down the ground, but the slower ball almost rolls along the surface. Doriga tries to run-out Naib but his throw is wide and the batters scamper across to steal a bye

Alei Nao to Nabi, 1 run, low full toss on the stumps, Nabi digs it to mid-wicket and there's a fumble, concedes the single

Alei Nao to Gulbadin, 1 run, on a length and outside off, Naib walks down and punches to sweeper cover

Alei Nao to Gulbadin, 2 runs, angled into middle and leg, Naib chips it over mid-wicket and picks up couple more

Alei Nao to Gulbadin, 2 runs, fullish delivery and Naib lofts down the ground, not quite off the middle and hence only a couple

Alei Nao to Gulbadin, SIX, smashed! Short of length delivery and Naib is quick to pounce, he transfers his weight back and slams the pull over deep mid-wicket. Just managed to clear the rope

Alei Nao [3.0-0-14-1] is back into the attack

John Kariko to Nabi, no run, once more floated up and the ball dips around the crease, Nabi toe-ends the drive back to Kariko

John Kariko to Nabi, no run, flighted and the length is too full, Nabi jams the drive back to Kariko

John Kariko to Gulbadin, 1 run, flatter and fraction short, Naib chops it square and the sweeper tidies up

John Kariko to Nabi, 1 run, fired full and close to yorker length, Nabi squeezes it square of the wicket

John Kariko to Nabi, no run, tossed up on off, Nabi pushes it gently to cover