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27-Mar-2016 14:11:00 GMT
Afghanistan v West Indies, Super 10 Group 1, Nagpur

Afghanistan upset West Indies with defend 123

Nagpur:West Indies set up a semi-final with Australia or India despite suffering a shock six-run defeat by Afghanistan.

Batting first, Afghanistan recovered from 56-5 to post 123-7, with Najib Zadran hitting a composed unbeaten 48.

West Indies, who had won their first three matches, slumped from 79-3 to 117-8 to hand Afghanistan their biggest ever win, but still top Group 1.

The result confirms that England will play New Zealand on Delhi on Wednesday in their semi-final.

West Indies will play their semi-final in Mumbai on Thursday.

Afghanistan return home having lost their first three games at this stage, but they will be buoyed by their first-ever victory over a Test-playing nation other than Bangladesh or Zimbabwe.

It was a fully deserved win for Asghar Stanikzai's side, who had given South Africa and England major scares in their two previous matches.

They had failed to capitalise on reducing England to 56-6, but this was initially a much less promising performance as they lost early wickets to the spin of Samuel Badree and Sulieman Benn.

However, from 76-5 after 15 overs, they came to life, with Zadran swatting four fours and a six to give them something to bowl at.

On the same Nagpur pitch where New Zealand defended 126 against India, Afghanistan - playing four spinners - were always in the game.

After three early wickets, a partnership of 41 between Dwayne Bravo and Denesh Ramdin seemed to have rescued West Indies, but when Ramdin was out stumped, Afghanistan seized their chances, with Mohammed Nabi taking two wickets and bowling a nerveless final over to seal victory.

However, with only 10 teams due to participate at the 2019 World Cup, this could be the last we see of Afghanistan in a major tournament for some time.

Brief scores
Afghanistan -
123 for 7 (Najibullah Zadran 48*, Badree 3-14)
West Indies - 117 for 8 (Bravo 28, Rashid 2-26, Mohammad Nabi 2-26)
Result - Afghanistan won by 6 runs
Points - Afghanistan 2, West Indies 0
MOM - Najibullah Zadran (Afghanistan)


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