Afghanistan v Bangladesh: T20 World Cup 2024 – live

10th over: Afghanistan 58-0 (Gurbaz 27, Ibrahim 18) Mustafizur takes the ball as Bangladesh swing the changes looking for a prized wicket before the drinks break. The pacer sends down a tidy over but without getting the crucial breakthrough. Bangladesh have restricted the flow of runs but the missed chance from Hridoy already feels costly as Afghanistan will carry all 10 wickets into the second half of their innings with the match evenly poised.

9th over: Afghanistan 54-0 (Gurbaz 25, Ibrahim 16) Another 50-run stand for the Afghanistan opening pair, their fourth for the tournament – that is now the most ever recorded by the same batters in a single men’s T20 World Cup. Young leg-spinner Rishad Hossain comes into the attack for Bangladesh but Gurbaz is in cruise control now, working the ball through midwicket for two then finding a gap in the same area to bring up the fifty.

8th over: Afghanistan 47-0 (Gurbaz 22, Ibrahim 15) Bangladesh are letting Afghanistan off the hook here as the openers find ones and twos without having to take too many risks. Tanzim loses his length and digs in a bouncer that hits the deck mid-pitch, sailing over Gurbaz and the keeper for five wides. The batters are having a big say in turning the match though, with their blazing running between wickets putting the fielders under as much pressure as the bowlers. Ominous signs for Bangladesh – and Australia – at the moment!

7th over: Afghanistan 36-0 (Gurbaz 19, Ibrahim 12) SIX! Gurbaz clobbers the first maximum of the match, dancing down the pitch and hitting Shakib back over his head. The Bangladesh veteran threw that one up and it was duly dispatched, far from the ideal end to a tidy over that had only allowed the Afghanistan openers to dab a few singles.

6th over: Afghanistan 27-0 (Gurbaz 12, Ibrahim 10) The opening pair are crucially still at the crease but this is Afghanistan’s lowest score through the powerplay as they make a cautious start with eyes on a bigger prize. Mustafizur Rahman starts with a neat over, five dot balls but is punished for the one looser delivery that Gurbaz pulls away for four.

5th over: Afghanistan 23-0 (Gurbaz 8, Ibrahim 10) DROPPED! That will hurt for Australia as much as Bangladesh.

Shakib Al Hasan comes into the attack and almost has an immediate impact, but Towhid Hridoy can’t hold onto the smoking hot chance. Ibrahim steps onto the back foot to smack a forehand through the covers, the shot flies straight to Hridoy standing at about short cover mostly looking to save a single, but it quickly bounces in and out of his hands.

Will Afghanistan make Bangladesh pay for sloppy fielding, just as they did to Australia a couple of days ago?

4th over: Afghanistan 21-0 (Gurbaz 7, Ibrahim 9) Another tasty over from Taskin, hitting the deck hard, beating the bat but failing to get the much-needed breakthrough for Bangladesh. Gurbaz steps down the pitch and swings wildly but gets nowhere near a shorter ball, not sure Taskin saw him coming though. Some fast and furious running between wickets helps the openers pick up a pair of twos, as they patiently build the innings.

3rd over: Afghanistan 16-0 (Gurbaz 3, Ibrahim 8) Ibrahim clatters the first boundary of the innings, lifting a good length ball in the air but safely through cover. A bouncer from Tanzim has plenty of pace but pitches a touch too short and sails over both Ibrahim and the keeper for four byes.

2nd over: Afghanistan 5-0 (Gurbaz 3, Ibrahim 1) A ripping over from Taskin Ahmed! The pacer digs it in a touch short and finds movement off the pitch, beats the bat a couple of times and lets out a frustrated scream. A slower ball gets through Ibrahim and bounces off keeper Litton Das’ pads to end a thrilling over.

1st over: Afghanistan 3-0 (Gurbaz 2, Ibrahim 1) Almost the perfect start for Bangladesh (and Australia)! Gurbaz plays tip-and-run off the first ball and only a desperate dive gets him home at the non striker’s end. The umpire sent it upstairs for a quick review but Gurbaz is quick and had his horizontal bat well across the crease as the bails were raised. Just as they did when setting up their 118-run stand against Australia two days ago, the opening pair are content biding their time through the opening over. A misfield releases some of the pressure and allows Ibrahim off strike.

Afghanistan openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran make their way to the crease after a 118-run stand that set up the stirring win over Australia.

Much of this match will ride on how the pair of in-form 22 year olds perform today, but it is Tanzim Hasan Sakib that has the ball in his hands and looking to have his own say for Bangladesh. Game on!

Bangladesh XI

Afghanistan XI

Afghanistan win the toss and elect to bat

Australia now need a huge slice of good fortune to keep their T20 World Cup hopes alive after falling 24 runs short of India’s 205-5 in St Lucia earlier today.

India opener Rohit Sharma clobbered 92 from 41 balls to set up the win, though Travis Head (76) and captain Mitch Marsh (37) gave Australia some chance of reaching their target until they lost 54-5 and staggered to 181-7.

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Preamble

Martin Pegan