Netherlands vs Afghanistan, 34th Match at Lucknow, World Cup 2023, Nov 03 2023 - Match Result

8:40pm Right. That will be a wrap from us. Afghanistan are still very much in contention for the semi-final; Netherlands, well, not quite. Tomorrow, two teams hoping to make the final four aka New Zealand and Pakistan will be at it, and that is a day game too. Later in the afternoon, Australia lock horns with England in what is expected to a high-intensity clash. Do join us for both of those matches but for tonight, this is me (Shashwat) signing off on behalf of Sreshth, Thilak and everyone else at ESPNcricinfo. Goodbye, take care!

Hashmatullah Shahidi, Afghanistan captain: (What pleased him more between their batting and bowling performance) I can say both. We bowled well but the run-chase is good. Third consecutive time that we have chased down a target successfully. (Run-chases and why it brings out the best in them) We are looking at the board and at the target of the opposition team. We are playing accordingly, and we are achieving for our team. (On Nabi) He is a special player. He always shows his talent. Whenever team needs him, he takes responsibility, like he did today. We are all very united at this World Cup. We are enjoying our wins, and all of them are thinking about winning. (On dreaming about the semi-final) Of course, 100% . We are trying our best to make it to the semi final and if it happens, it will be a big achievement for the country. I lost my mother three months ago and my family is in a lot of pain. It will be a big achievement (to reach the semi-final), first of all for the country, but also for my family. (Message to the people back home) Right now, a lot of refugee people are struggling. We are watching their videos and we are sad for them. We are with them in these tough times and I want to dedicate this win to them, who are in pain, and to everyone back home.

Scott Edwards, Netherlands captain: (On the run-outs) Definitely not ideal. Hard to come back from that. We started well and set ourselves up for a good total but gave it away a little. They have high-quality spinners and we did not have top-order batters to face them. (On the decision at the toss and the dew) The theory we went in with was we could not really plan for the dew. 280 would have been a good score even if dew was around. (On Champions Trophy qualification) Not something we were looking to before this game but something we might have to look at now.

"NRR -0.330 is less than -0.024. So PAK should be ahead of AFG. Isn't it?" -- Afghanistan have two more points than Pakistan, Arun, and the number of points always takes precedence.

Mohammad Nabi, Player of the Match: (On how well he is bowling) Just focussing on my lines and lengths. Focussing on dot balls. I always try to concentrate on my lines and lengths, and variations. I try to stick to my plans and use the angles. In some pitches, the variation is more, that is sometimes why I get more wickets. I focus on dot balls and that is how I control my economy rate. (On what keeps him going) Still working on my fitness, working on my rehab, proper diets. It is working (smiles).

8:04pm Another clinical run-chase, and two more points on the board for Afghanistan. They have now won three on the spin and are up to fifth, level on points with Australia and New Zealand, and two points ahead of Pakistan. However, their NRR, when compared to the aforementioned teams, is the lowest. They did do their NRR some good by chasing this down inside 32 overs but because of what happened to them earlier in the tournament, it still lies below zero.

Coming back to the run-chase, Rahmat and Shahidi were brilliant, like they were against Pakistan. When Zadran got out, there was a small window of opportunity but the two experienced campaigners slammed that particular door shut, and once that partnership established itself, there was not much the Dutch could do.

Speaking of Netherlands, they were always playing catch-up having been bundled out for 179. They did pick up both openers relatively cheaply, although the lack of scoreboard pressure meant that one brisk partnership was enough to take the game truly beyond them.

Ajey: "As much as Afghanistan has difficult matches coming up, Pakistan too has two big ones coming." -- That is true but if Pakistan and Afghanistan lose to NZ and Australia, respectively, they will not just lose two points, but also give their direct rivals a two-point push

Shahidi wanted to review that wide call, but there is no provision for that at this World Cup, unfortunately...

Dutt is back