In a historic, electrifying and thrilling encounter, Afghanistan defeated the mighty Australia by 21 runs in the Super 8 stage of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. This stunning victory keeps Afghanistan’s hopes alive for a spot in the semifinals. It is the first ever win of Afghanistan in a world cup match against Australia.
The match witnessed a stellar bowling performance by Gulbadin Naib, who bagged four crucial wickets for just 20 runs, playing a pivotal role in Afghanistan’s defense of a modest target.
Chasing 149 for victory, Australia were bundled out for 127, thanks to the formidable bowling attack led by Naib and Naveen-ul-Haq, who claimed three wickets for 20 runs.
The Aussies struggled to build momentum, with Glenn Maxwell’s valiant 59 off 41 balls being the only significant resistance. Maxwell’s effort seemed to be steering Australia towards a win, but Naib’s introduction after the halfway mark changed the game’s trajectory.
Naib struck in his first over by dismissing Marcus Stoinis, followed by a critical wicket of Tim David in the next over. His third over saw an exceptional catch by Noor Ahmad that sent Maxwell packing. Naib completed his four-wicket haul by bowling out Pat Cummins, leaving the Australian batting lineup in shambles.
Naveen-ul-Haq’s early breakthroughs set the tone for Afghanistan, removing two top-order batsmen during the powerplay and establishing control over the game. The pitch offered turn, seam, and swing, which the Afghan bowlers exploited expertly.
Earlier, Afghanistan’s innings started solidly, with openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran constructing a formidable 118-run partnership. Both batsmen scored fifties, setting a solid foundation. Gurbaz top-scored with 60 runs before being dismissed by Stoinis, which initiated a middle-order collapse.
Afghanistan lost six wickets in the space of 20 balls, hampered by Pat Cummins’ hat-trick. Cummins made history by becoming the first player to take two consecutive hat-tricks in T20 World Cup matches.
Despite the mid-innings wobble, Afghanistan managed to post 148, a target that proved sufficient thanks to their bowlers’ extraordinary efforts. This victory marks a historic moment for Afghan cricket, as they defeated a formidable Australian side in a World Cup match for the first time.
The win adds significant excitement to Group One of the Super 8 stage. With this victory, Afghanistan’s path to the semifinals remains open, contingent on the outcomes of the remaining two matches: India vs. Australia and Afghanistan vs. Bangladesh. If India overcomes Australia and Afghanistan triumphs over Bangladesh, Afghanistan will make it to the semifinals, marking a historic achievement for the team.
Jonathan Trott, the former Australian player is the current coach of Afghanistan team.
The resilience and determination displayed by the Afghan players have positioned them as strong contenders in this thrilling World Cup campaign.
