New Zealand qualify for 3rd straight T20 World Cup semis after Australia fail to reach 185 runs vs Afghanistan

Adelaide, v 4 (PTI) New Zealand on Friday became first team to book a semifinal berth in T20 World Cup after Australia were restricted to 168-8 by Afghanistan in a crucial game here.

After New Zealand beat Ireland by 35 runs in ir final super 12 group, defending champions Australia needed to win against Afghanistan by an improbable 185 runs to overtake net runrate of ir Trans-Tasman rivals.

hosts, however, scored 168 for 8 after being invited to bat by Afghanistan, paving way for New Zealand to qualify for kckout st.

Australia w will need to limit Afghanistan to 106 or lower to stay alive in semifinal race, which also involves England.

win over Ireland saw New Zealand grab top spot with seven points and a net runrate of +2.113. England (5 points), who will take on Sri Lanka in ir final super 12 game, are currently in second spot with a runrate of +0.547.

Australia are placed third, also with five points, but with a runrate of -0.304. If y can restrict Afghanistan to 106 or lower, y can get past England's NRR.

New Zealand, led by Kane Williamson, began ir campaign in T20 showpiece with a dominating 89-run win over Australia, before thrashing Sri Lanka by 65 runs following a washout against Afghanistan.

ir only loss was against England by 20 runs at Gabba in Brisbane.

New Zealand had reached final of last edition, where y lost to Australia by eight wickets.