New Delhi: Afghanistan posted a massive 207-run target in the second semi-final of the Emerging Asia Cup 2024 at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground (Ministry Turf 1) on Friday. Sediqullah Atal and Zubaid Akbari stitched a 137-run partnership for the first wicket and provided their team with a stunning start after opting to bat first.
Both batters played brilliant shots all around the park and put Indian bowlers under immense pressure. Atal scored 83 runs off 52 balls, his remarkable knock was laced with seven boundaries and four maximums while Akbari amassed 64 runs off 41 balls with the help of five boundaries and four maximums.
Aaqib Khan dismissed Akbari in the 15th over and provided The Men in Blue their first breakthrough. Rasikh Salam removed Sediqullah Atal and Darwish Rasooli in the same over to put some pressure back on Afghanistan. But Karim Janat batted well and smashed Anshul Kamboj for two maximums in the 19th over.
He scored 41 runs off 20 balls and helped Afghanistan to a huge 207-run target for the Men in Blue. Team India remained unbeaten in the group stage and finished in first position in the Group B points table while Afghanistan lost one match and finished second in the Group A standings.
Tilak Varma and Co. defeated Pakistan by 7 runs in their opening match of the tournament. After that, They defeated UAE by 7 wickets and Oman by 6 wickets. Afghanistan also won their first match and beat Sri Lanka by 11 runs. In the second match, they beat Bangladesh by 4 wickets but lost against Hong Kong by 5 wickets.
India lost three wickets in powerplay
Chasing the big target of 207 runs, Team India lost three quick wickets in the first six overs. Allah Ghazanfar removed in-from Abhishek Sharma on 7 runs in the third over. He struck again in his next over and dismissed Prabhsimran on 19 runs. Abdul Rahman removed Tilak Varma on 16 runs in the last over of the powerplay.
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