What a win this has been for Afghanistan! They were backed into one corner after that loss to India and needed to win this match to stay alive in the race to enter the semifinals. And they did it in style by beating Australia for the first time in international cricket. A massive moment for Afghanistan cricket! Gulbadin Naib was the star of the show with four wickets as Rashid Khan and his men successfully defend 149 runs on a tricky surface. This win has significantly shaken up things in Group 1 with Australia now needing to win against India to make it to the semifimals. If Afghanistan beat Bangladesh, then will go through provided India beat Australia. Afghanistan successfully buried the demons of the ODI World Cup last year when they went close to beating Australia but Glenn Maxwell denied them. A sensational win for a sensational team!
OUT! Adam Zampa is dismissed and Afghanistan beat Australia! What a win and what a result this is for Afghanistan cricket! They are pumped up and will remember this win for a very long time to come! What a performance it has been for Afghanistan, first with the bat with Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran hitting fifties. Gulbadin Naib and Naveen-ul-Haq did well to take wickets at regular intervals. A big win and the semifinal scenario just gets interesting! Adam Zampa c Mohammad Nabi b Azmatullah Omarzai 9(7)
OUT! Another wicket falls and it is Ashton Agar who has been dismissed! And guess what, it is Gulbadin Naib who takes the catch!
OUT! Gulbadin Naib castles Pat Cummins and Afghanistan believe that they can win it! A slower delivery and Cummins misses the ball perfectly with his stumps being disturbed. Will there be an upset? Pat Cummins b Gulbadin Naib 3(9)
OUT! Another big moment in the match with Rashid Khan dismissing Matthew Wade! Wade played a sweep shot and Karim Janat ends up taking a fine catch at short-fine leg. This is getting really interesting! Matthew Wade c Karim Janat b Rashid Khan 5(7)
OUT! Gulbadin Naib gets the big wicket of Glenn Maxwell, courtesy of a spectacular catch by Noor Ahmad! This is the wicket that Afghanistan needed and the Afghanistan players are truly pumped up! A third wicket for Gulbadin Naib! Glenn Maxwell c Noor Ahmad b Gulbadin Naib 59(41)
FIFTY for Glenn Maxwell! The Australian is playing a good knock here and is turning out to be the difference-maker against Afghanistan yet again. Can he help Australia pull off a win against Afghanistan like he did in the ODI World Cup last year?
OUT! Gulbadin Naib has one more wicket as he traps Tim David in front of the stumps! Afghanistan are not letting Australia run away with the game and have put one more pressure with this wicket. This game is headed towards a fascinating finish! Tim David lbw b Gulbadin Naib 2(4)
OUT! Marcus Stoinis has to depart and Afghanistan players are pumped up! Gulbadin Naib had Stoinis top edge the ball and Gurbaz does well to run back and take a good catch. Afghanistan are keeping Australia on their toes here but the wicket they'd want most is that of Glenn Maxwell. Marcus Stoinis c Rahmanullah Gurbaz b Gulbadin Naib 11(17)
Afghanistan are ahead at the moment after having taken three wickets inside the first 10 overs. They will look to put more pressure on the Australian batters. Meanwhile, Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis are out in the middle and they will look to absorb the pressure and play some big shots.
Afghanistan National Cricket Team vs Australia National Cricket Team Match Scorecard: The ICC T20 World Cup 2024 is nearing the last few matches of the Super Eight stage and both the groups are interestingly poised. In Group 1, India have taken a stride towards qualification while Australia have started well too. Australia take on Afghanistan next at the Arnos Vale Ground, Kingstown, St Vincent. Australia secured a dominating victory against Bangladesh in the last match while Afghanistan lost their momentum with a defeat against India. For the Afghans, the match is very crucial to survive further in the competition while Australia will look to secure a semifinal place ahead of a big game against India. PCB Threaten To Take Legal Action if They Don’t Receive Any Evidence of Match-Fixing Allegations Against Babar Azam After Pakistan’s Poor T20 World Cup 2024 Campaign: Report.
Australia National Cricket Team has been clinical till now in the competition, winning all the five games they have played till now. Although the Arnos Vale Ground pitch assists the spinners, Australia will like to face the challenge at this stage of the competition as they might face the threat later in the knockouts. Travis Head's lean patch still remains a concern for them while Daivd Warner, Marcus Stoinis score runs for them. Pat Cummins took a hat-trick in the last game and coupled with Mitchell Starc and Adam Zampa, the Aussie attack poses a significant threat to the Afghan batters.
Afghanistan National Cricket Team had made a forced change in the top order against India as they pushed Ibrahim Zadran down the order for accommodating Hazratullah Zazai. Rahamanullah Gurbaz misfired and that triggered a collapse which made Afghanistan collapse. They would look for a consolidated start from the top against Australia as it gives them only chance to score big against an elite bowling side. Noor Ahmad has not been at his best form and he needs to provide support to Rashid Khan and Fazalhaq Farooqi for better bowling performance. Bowlers With Hat-Tricks in ICC T20 World Cup: Pat Cummins Joins Elite List After Taking Three Consecutive Wickets in AUS vs BAN T20WC 2024 Super 8 Match.
Squads:
Australia National Cricket Team Squad: David Warner, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh(c), Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Tim David, Matthew Wade(w), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Cameron Green, Nathan Ellis, Ashton Agar.
Afghanistan National Cricket Team Squad: Rahmanullah Gurbaz(w), Hazratullah Zazai, Ibrahim Zadran, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan(c), Noor Ahmad, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Fareed Ahmad Malik, Karim Janat, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Mohammad Ishaq, Nangeyalia Kharote