Afghanistan kept their hopes alive for a semi-final spot in the T20 World Cup after a historic 21-run win against Australia in Kingstown on Saturday. Watch the full highlights below.
Defending 148-6 on a challenging Kingstown wicket, Afghanistan had an early advantage, but a fifty from Glenn Maxwell made Afghanistan relive the horrors of the 2023 ODI World Cup. In the end, the bowlers came on top to script a historic win for Afghanistan.
After being asked to bat first, Ibrahim Zadran, back at opening with Rahmanullah Gurbaz, started cautiously. The duo stitched up a 118-run stand for the first wicket, setting up a nice platform for Afghanistan to cash in. Gurbaz departed for a 49-ball 60 as Marcus Stoinis gave a peculiar send-off after breaking the record opening partnership in the 16th over, while Ibrahim chipped in with 51 off 48 balls.
Cummins takes historic hat-trick
Afghanistan could only manage 29 runs from the last four overs as Australia clawed back into the game, owing to some brilliant death bowling. Four of the five wickets that came in this phase went to Pat Cummins' name, including a hat-trick, his second on the trot, spanning through the 18th and 20th overs. He dismissed Rashid Khan off the last ball of the 18th and claimed the wickets of Karim Janat (13 off nine) and Gulbadin Naib off the first two deliveries in the 20th over. Cummins became the first player to take back-to-back hat-tricks in T20Is.
Naib, Naveen run through Afghanistan
The Rashid Khan-led team had a fairytale start to their defence as Naveen-ul-Haq eliminated the dangerous Travis Head for a duck off just the third ball of the innings. Naveen removed captain Mitchell Marsh (12 off nine) in the third over before Mohammad Nabi had David Warner caught at short fine for 32-3 in 5.1 overs. Glenn Maxwell and Stoinis tried to resurrect the run-chase, but Gulbadin Naib struck in the 11th over to remove the latter for a scratchy 11. A score of 71-4 soon became 85-5, as Naib rapped Tim David on his pads for just two. Maxwell made Afghanistan feel their worst fear coming true, but a sensational catch by Noor Ahmad at backward point off Naib’s bowling sent the batter packing for 41 off 59.
Australia couldn't recover from there on as they were bowled out for 127 in 19.2 overs. Naib claimed another wicket and finished with match-winning figures of 4-20.
This is Afghanistan's first win over Australia in any format.
Watch the highlights of AUS vs AFG here:
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