Summary

  • Afghanistan beat Netherlands by seven wickets in Lucknow to boost semi-final hopes

  • Hashmatullah & Rahmat hit fifties to guide their side past target of 180 with 18.3 overs spare

  • Netherlands collapse from 73-1 to 113-6 before slight recovery to post 179

  • Engelbrecht makes 58 off 86 balls; Nabi takes 3-28

  • Four of Dutch top five run out

  1. How's stat?!published at 13:44 Greenwich Mean Time 3 November 2023

    Andy Zaltzman
    Cricket statistician on Test Match Special

    That is Rahmat Shah's 31st score of 50 or more in ODIs, and his third in this World Cup so far.

  2. Postpublished at 13:44 Greenwich Mean Time 3 November 2023

    Aatif Nawaz
    BBC Test Match Special commentator

    That is a shot of the highest class to bring up a half-century.

  3. Afg 109-2published at 20 overs

    A lovely drive down the ground from Rahmat, sending Logan van Beek away for four.

    That's his fifty, coming off 47 balls.

  4. Postpublished at 13:40 Greenwich Mean Time 3 November 2023

    Abhishek Jhunjhunwala
    Former IPL batter on BBC Test Match Special

    Afghanistan are picking up the pace now. They will know that doing this inside 30 overs will give their net run-rate a massive boost and they will really close in on the top four.

  5. Postpublished at 13:40 Greenwich Mean Time 3 November 2023

    Kipling probably wasn't writing about Roloef van der Merwe, to be honest.

  6. Afg 101-2published at 19 overs

    Rahmat brings up his side's hundred, cutting Van der Merwe for four through the slips. The ball took a bit of an edge and RVDM looks distraught, as per.

    Kipling wrote "if you can meet with triumph and disaster and treat those two impostors just the same" - I suppose the Dutch all-rounder does treat them just the same, it's just he treats them both with colossal emotion, while his definition of triumph and disaster is basically everything.

  7. Postpublished at 13:34 Greenwich Mean Time 3 November 2023

    Aatif Nawaz
    BBC Test Match Special commentator

    It's all very easy for Afghanistan, there's no pressure on them. Something drastic has to happen for the Netherlands.

  8. Afg 95-2published at 18 overs

    Six runs off this Aryan Dutt over, as Afghanistan do now reach the halfway point of the chase.

    Not much sign of acceleration. Not much sign of a wicket.

  9. Postpublished at 13:30 Greenwich Mean Time 3 November 2023

    Abhishek Jhunjhunwala
    Former IPL batter on BBC Test Match Special

    Afghanistan's process for chasing under Jonathan Trott is very simple but effective and I think that's why we don't see them panic any more.

    They have targets to reach every 10 overs and then they reassess at the end of every period. That helps give the batters clarity.

  10. Afg 89-2published at 17 overs

    Hashmat clips Van der Merwe through point for a couple.

    No risks taken as Afghanistan close on the halfway point of their chase.

  11. Postpublished at 13:25 Greenwich Mean Time 3 November 2023

    Aatif Nawaz
    BBC Test Match Special commentator

    Previously with Afghanistan, teams would take two wickets and think they are in the game but their middle order is a lot more settled these days.

  12. Postpublished at 13:25 Greenwich Mean Time 3 November 2023

    Abhishek Jhunjhunwala
    Former IPL batter on BBC Test Match Special

    I think we'll see Afghanistan continue to accumulate the next 20 or 30 runs, and then they will hit the accelerator.

  13. Afg 85-2published at 16 overs

    Very cute from Rahmat, picking his moment and reverse sweeping the returning Dutt through the empty third man region for four.

    The players will take drinks in Lucknow.

  14. Postpublished at 13:21 Greenwich Mean Time 3 November 2023

    Abhishek Jhunjhunwala
    Former IPL batter on BBC Test Match Special

    Rahmat Shah has been brilliant for Afghanistan throughout this World Cup. He has very good game awareness and picks the gaps perfectly.

  15. Afg 80-2published at 15 overs

    A first four in three overs as Rahmat sweeps Van der Merwe for four. The all-rounder clutches his head in despair - he's not one to suffer things lightly.

    The Netherlands were 81-2 at this stage. So evenly matched, but Afghanistan will want to avoid the collapse that followed in the Dutch innings.

  16. Postpublished at 13:17 Greenwich Mean Time 3 November 2023

    Kevin Howells
    BBC Test Match Special commentator

    It's been very steady for Afghanistan. They don't need to take any risks.

  17. Afg 73-2published at 14 overs

    Just two runs from the Van Meekeren over - this pair not looking inclined to chase the game too hard at this stage.

  18. Afg 71-2published at 13 overs

    Roloef van der Merwe starts his next over with a dot ball, before Afghanistan hustle through five singles on the spin.

    An under-arm throw into the keeper and the stumps are broken, but Hashmat is home comfortably and that's the over.

  19. Postpublished at 13:08 Greenwich Mean Time 3 November 2023

    Kevin Howells
    BBC Test Match Special commentator

    Well, I haven't been to a nightclub in quite a while but do you really hear those sorts of noises?

  20. Postpublished at 13:08 Greenwich Mean Time 3 November 2023

    Lydia Greenway
    Former England batter on BBC Test Match Special

    The no-ball noise always startles me, it's like being in a nightclub.