Fantastic Farooqi seals maiden Super Eight berth for Afghans

The pace combination of Fazalhaq Farooqi and Naveen-ul-Haq led Afghanistan’s seven-wicket rout of Papua New Guinea here as the strife-torn country stormed into the T20 World Cup’s Super Eight stage for the first time, knocking out group favourites New Zealand in the process.

• AFGHANISTAN KNOCK OUT PAPUA NEW GUINEA BY SEVEN WICKETS

Gulbadin Naib scored an unbeaten 49 as Afghanistan gunned down the target of 96 in 15.1 overs overcoming early jitters. Put in to bat, PNG were bundled out for 95 with Farooqi and Naveen ripping through the line-up.

The Afghans will face title favourites India in their first Super Eight clash on June 20 in Barbados.

The result also meant that New Zealand, the 2021 finalists, were knocked out of the

ICC showpiece. The Kiwis find themselves at the bottom of the table with two defeats from as many matches.

Tournament co-hosts West Indies have already entered the Super Eight from Group C with six points, which is the same as the Afghans.

Highlights

>> Gulbadin Naib scored an unbeaten 49 >> Afghanistan gunned down the target of 96 in 15.1 overs overcoming early jitters

>> The Afghans will face title favourites India in their first Super Eight clash on June 20 in Barbados

>> Tournament co-hosts West Indies have already entered the Super Eight from Group C with six points