LIVE SCORE - NED vs AFG, ICC World Cup 2023: Toss, Blog, Videos And Updates From Lucknow

Afghanistan routed the Netherlands in Lucknow by seven wickets. They have now won three matches on the trot. This massive win increase their chances of going to the semis. They are tied with New Zealand and Australia on points.

On the other hand, the Netherlands are all but out of the semi-final contention. You can see the glum on their faces.

Alright! Let's end the live blog on that note. We have a double-header tomorrow.  Join us early at OneCricket as we will take you through this busy cricketing weekend. Until then, ta-ta.

AFGHANISTAN WIN!

Hashmatullah hits the winning shot. He uses his feet well to come to the pitch of the delivery as the ball bounces once before going past the boundary rope. This has been another batting display of the highest order by Afghanistan. In under 32 overs, they have chased 180 runs with seven wickets to spare.

50 FOR HASHMATULLAH!

Hashmatullah runs the ball through mid-wicket for a single and brings up his half-century. He has been brilliant for Afghanistan in this World Cup. 

The match is still on and Afghanistan need 10 runs to win. They batters are trying their every bit to ensure they go back with a not-out sign placed against their names.

Alright, now they are going for it. Both Hashmatullah and Omarzai are showing signs of aggression as Afghanistan sit in the touching distance of a win.

Afghanistan are doing it in singles at the moment. And Mark Nicholas on air has just put across a very fair point. Why are not Hashmatullah and Azmatullah Omarzai going all-out? Afghanistan cannot lose from here surely, and they can try to better their NRR.

IYKYK

Rahmat is gone!!!

Saqib Zulfiqar completes a caught and bolwed.  Rahmat hit the ball straight to the bowler and hangs his head in disbelief after knows he committed a blunder there.

50 for RAHMAT!

This is his third consecutive half-century in the tournament. He is the glue that has stitched the Afghanistan batting line-up.

100 UP FOR AFGHANISTAN!

In how many overs will Afghanistan chase this is the only question left in this match. They will have their one eye at the NRR as they are competing with the teams who are better than them on this front.

Afghanistan are cruising. The target is under 100 runs. They are winning this one comprehensively unless there is a surprise in the offing.

The Netherlands are letting Hashmatullah Shahidi and Rahmat to take easy singles. The batters are happy with the strike rotation as they know they do not need to do anything fancy to complete the run-chase.

Don't take it as a joke!

The Bulldog strikes!!!

Roelof van der Merwe shatters the stumps on the very first ball of his spell. Zadran tries to cut the ball but drags it back to the wickets as the bails light up and so does the Netherlands' mood. The Dutch are pretty much in it.

Exhibition of drives!

Rahmat Shah is putting on a show of his regal shots. He picks up three boundaries as the first powerplay comes to a close with Afghanistan at 55/1.

The Netherlands have dismissed Gurbaz early but Afghanistan are still way ahead of them. The Dutch need to take wickets in clusters to keep their chances up of winning this after coming back from behind.

First WICKET Falls!!!

Again a brilliant call by Edwards. He was convinced Gurbaz has gloved it. He immediately takes a DRS. The ultraedge rules out the decision in his favour as Logan van Beek draws the first blood.

The Netherlands needed early wickets but they have failed to do so. The target is no meagre that even a 30-run partnership will hurt them massively.

It looked worth taking a review from the naked eye as Zadran gets hit on his pads on a bowl of Dutt. But the Dutch decided against it. And as the ball-tracking showed, it was not hitting the wickets. Good call by captain Scott Edwards.

A boundary closes the first over. Gurbaz goes on the back foot and slashes the ball past point to bring up the first four of the innings.

The action is about to resume. Afghanistan openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran are doing exercises before beginning the batting. Off-spinner Aryan Dutt will start the proceedings for the Netherlands.

If Afghanistan chase this, they will go level with New Zealand and Australia on points. What a dream tournament are they having.

That's it, Netherlands have crumbled!

This has been a disaster-class from the Orange Army. After a rather successful World Cup campaign, they have crumbled against the Afghan spin attack. Not to mention that 4 run-outs in the game hasn't helped their cause either. Afghanistan need180 to keep their semi-finale hopes alive. Can the Dutch team do the unthinkable and beat the favourites here?

Noor gets the 9th wicket! Too easy for Afghanistan!

He tosses the ball and gives it a bit more air as van der Merwe swings his bat and gets a top-edge. The ball safely goes into the hands of Ibrahim Zadran. Afghanistan are on fire, they are on a roll.....!!!

8 down for the Orange Army! AFG on a roll!

Another run-out, another mixup and another wicket! van der Merwe flicks the ball down the leg side and he had a mixup in the middle with Engelbrecht. A yes, no between the two batters and the throw was inch-perfect towards the keeper as Engelbrecht fails to make his ground. This is school-boy stuff.

Afghanistan on fire! This is too Easy for Afghans!

Mohammad Nabi gets the latest breakthrough as The Netherlands lose their 7th wicket. He tossed up the off-break and invited the batter for a big shot. Logan van Beek goes for the hoick and gets beaten as the keeper does a simple stumping

Another one bites the dust!

This is excellent stuff from the Afghanistan bowlers. Netherlands have no clue what's happening to them. Noor bowls a lovely googly and Zulfiqar gets trapped on the front leg. Dutch side have lost 6 wickets.

Netherlands collapsing!

This is horrendous stuff from the Dutch team. From 73/1 to 108/5, the team has collapsed like a pack of cards.

How much is too much for the Afghans?

The wicket is dry and might get slower as the game progresses. Afghanistan will be aiming to restrict the Netherlands team under 240. The last two matches, Afghanistan have chased immensely well, and will be aiming to chase anything tonight as well.

A brilliant bit of fielding and O'Dowd is gone!

Omarzai the star for Afghanistan as they desperately needed a breakthrough. He fires in a bullet throw from the fine leg region and O'Dowd is short of his crease attempting the second run.

Decent start after an early breakthrough!

Why no Omarzai?

Shahidi, the Afghanistan captain needs to be a bit more proactive with his captaincy. Where is Omarzai? He should have been the new ball bowler for the Afghans. The guy is too good to be a second fiddle.

Dutch recovery on the cards!

After throwing away the wicket initially, the Netherlands have started to resurrect their innings. Ackermann and O'Dowd have steadied the ship for their side.

AFG get the breakthrough!

Mujeeb draws the first blood! The spinner has started to work his magic. Barresi had no answer to that one. Mujeeb bags his 100th ODI wicket!

Playing XIs

Netherlands Playing XI : Wesley Barresi, Max O'Dowd, Colin Ackermann, Sybrand Engelbrecht, Scott Edwards (c and wk), Bas de Leede, Saqib Zulfiqar, Logan van Beek, Roelof van der Merwe, Aryan Dutt, Paul van Meekeren

Afghanistan Playing XI : Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Ikram Alikhil (wk), Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Noor Ahmad

Toss update!

Netherlands have won the toss and to no one's surprise, have elected to bat first

Key player battles

Scott Edwards vs Rashid Khan: Runs: 40, Balls: 54, Dismissals: 0, SR: 74.1

Bas de Leede vs Rashid Khan: Runs: 5, Balls: 21, Dismissals: 1, Average: 5, SR: 23.8

Final touches ahead of the crucial game!

Head to head between NED-AFG

Looking at their ODI head-to-head history, Afghanistan dominates with seven wins out of the nine clashes against the Netherlands. The Dutch team, on the other hand, has only tasted victory twice in these matchups. 

Team Previews (AFG)

It's been a remarkable journey for Afghanistan at this World Cup. As much their rise at the international stage despite facing social and humanitarian obstacles warmed the hearts before, hardly ever you could associate the word clinical with the spirited Afghans. 

But they've stepped a notch higher with their performance and overall skill on display at this tournament despite entering it with modest preparations. 

When it's one, you could deem it an upset. But three? Three exceptional allround wins in six matches over oppositions significantly better resourced and prepared have raised their standards and tag as world cricket's giantkillers. 

Team Previews (Dutch)

The spirited Dutchmen have performed better than expected in alien Indian conditions despite coming here on the back of minimal preparations. 
The biggest beneficiary and flagbearers for the reintroduction of the 'Super League' concept, the Netherlands made immense gains by punching as a pack together and pulling off triumphs versus two Test members. 
Another win could give them a huge moment in their cricket history as it would propel them to the Champions Trophy in Pakistan as the first associate qualifying side since 2004. 

Hello peeps! After an enthralling day of cricket yesterday, the OneCricket team is back with yet another Live Blog, this time live from the Ekana Stadium. And yes, you guessed it right, it's the crucial game between The Netherlands and Afghanistan. Plenty to play for as Afghanistan have a great chance of qualifying for the semis, if they win this contest and the remaining two. 

The Netherlands have been nothing short of a revelation in the WC 2023 and will aim for a Champions Trophy place, if they can finish inside top-8. The Orange Army have been a supreme side under Scott Edwards and will be aiming for yet another win here tonight!