AFG vs PNG Highlights, T20 World Cup 2024: Afghanistan beat Papua New Guinea by 7 wickets to enter Super Eights

Spin early on as the 'Professor' Mohammad Nabi will bowl the second over.

Fazalhaq Farooqi to Tony Ura, Pitches it right up to the batter and offers a bit of width on off, Tony Ura frees his arms and cracks the drive along the carpet to deep backward point for a single. A quiet first over from Farooqi.

Fazalhaq Farooqi to Tony Ura, Hits the hard length, on middle, Tony Ura hops back and stabs it down the deck with a straight bat.

Fazalhaq Farooqi to Tony Ura, Gets a good inward shape, on a good length, on middle, Tony Ura accounts for the inward movement, gets on the front foot and defends it solidly off the front foot.

Fazalhaq Farooqi to Tony Ura, Drags the length back and angles it across the batter, outside off, Tony Ura sways away from the line of the ball and lets the ball go through to the keeper.

Fazalhaq Farooqi to Tony Ura, On target again is Fazalhaq Farooqi but Papua New Guinea have their first runs. Shaping in, full and attacking the stumps, on middle and leg, Tony Ura uses the swing well and clips it through square leg for a couple of runs.

Fazalhaq Farooqi to Tony Ura, Charges in from over the wicket and gets the yorker right in first up, in search of swing, around off, Tony Ura digs it out off the toe-end of the bat towards cover. Ura wants a single but gets sent back by his partner.

Done with the pre-match formalities and it is now time for the real action to get underway at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Tarouba. The two Umpires are already out in the middle and the players of Afghanistan are scattering throughout the field and taking their respective positions. Assad Vala and Tony Ura are the openers for Papua New Guinea with the latter taking the guard. Fazalhaq Farooqi has the new ball and is all in readiness to bowl the first over of the game for Afghanistan. And, here we go...

We are just a few moments away from the start of the match. But before that, the two set of players are getting lined up followed by the match officials for their respective national anthems. It will be Papua New Guinea's first, followed by the national anthem of Afghanistan.

Norman Vanua is in for a flash interview. He says that it is an honour to represent Papua New Guinea and be the leading wicket-taker. States that it is always a good game against Afghanistan and that they have played them in a few T20Is and four-day matches and they are a tough team to beat. Feels that they need to play their best game and follow the processes. Shares that cricket has come a long way in Papua New Guinea and the facilities have improved. Adds that the grounds have gotten better and there is a lot more coverage of the game in the country. Ends by saying that they are taking in the experience of playing in a World Cup and are having fun.

PITCH REPORT - Simon Doull and Daren Ganga are at the 22 yards. Simon Doull says that the weather is quite better and breezy, gusting south-easterly blowing towards the shorter side. Says it is 65 meters and 67 meters on squares and it is 70 meters hit down the ground. Daren Ganga joins and says that along the cracks, the density of the grass has increased and it will get a little more variable pace and bounce from it. Also adds that from what they saw in the previous game played here, you can score once you get going. Daren Ganga says the way Sherfane Rutherford played vertical bat strokes here will also be very crucial for the batters in this game.

The captain of Papua New Guinea, Assad Vala says that he watched the last game played at this venue where the wicket was up and down. Feels that spending time out in the middle will be key for the batters. Shares that they took a few days off and returned to training three days ago. Hopes that his side can put the learnings from the first couple of games into this clash. Ends by informing that they have made one change based on the conditions with Semo Kamea coming in for Charles Amini.

Rashid Khan, the skipper of Afghanistan wins the toss and elects to BOWL first. Says they want to see how the wicket will behave here and they have watched the previous game and that there was a lot of dew as well. Adds it rained heavily and didn't allow them to practice much. Says each game is very important and they are taking each game seriously and ends up informing they are going with the same side.

Papua New Guinea (Playing XI) - Tony Ura, Assad Vala (C), Lega Siaka, Sese Bau, Hiri Hiri, Chad Soper, Kipling Doriga (WK), Norman Vanua, Alei Nao, John Kariko, Semo Kamea (In for Charles Amini).

Afghanistan (Unchanged Playing XI) - Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Ibrahim Zadran, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Najibullah Zadran, Karim Janat, Rashid Khan (C), Noor Ahmad, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi.

TOSS - The coin toss lands in the favour of Afghanistan and they have opted to BOWL first.