KINGSTOWN, St Vincent – Underdogs Afghanistan batted, bowled, and fielded magnificently to shock powerhouses Australia by 21 runs in a historic result that blew Group One of the Twenty20 World Cup Super Eights wide open on Saturday.
Openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz (60) and Ibrahim Zadran (51) blasted half-centuries to underpin Afghanistan’s total of 148 for six off their 20 overs after they were sent in on a turning pitch at the Arnos Vale Stadium.
And fast bowler Gulbadin Naib followed up with superb figures of four for 20 in four explosive overs as Australia crumbled for 127 with four balls left, to taste defeat for the first time in the tournament.
Glenn Maxwell hinted at producing something special with a top score of 59 off 41 deliveries but he was the only one to pass 12, new ball seamer Naveen-ul-Haq chipping in with three for 20 from his four to help Afghanistan beat Australia for the first time in a cricket match.
“I feel like tonight because of the happiness I won’t be able to sleep – that’s how happy the whole team is in the whole country,” an elated captain Rashid Khan said afterward.
“And it’s a massive win for us as a team, as a nation. It’s not just like a bilateral game, it’s a World Cup game and, in a World Cup, you’re beating the best side.
“It’s a great achievement. And you’re the winners of [the] 2021 World Cup so beating a team like that, I think it always gives you so much energy and doesn’t let you sleep as well.”
Rahmanullah faced 49 balls, striking four fours and as many sixes while Ibrahim weighed in with a half-dozen fours, the pair posting 118 – a record third-century stand of the showpiece.
Rahmanullah eventually holed out to deep square in the 16th over off seamer Marcus Stoinis and Ibrahim was third out in the 17th, top-edging leg-spinner Adam Zampa (2-28) to short third man.
At the death, fast bowler Pat Cummins (3-28) picked up a historic second hat-trick in as many matches, following up his feat against Bangladesh last Thursday.
In reply, Australia slumped to 32 for three at the start of the sixth over, Naveen bowling Travis Head with the second ball of the chase without a run on the board and then knocking over Mitchell Marsh for 12 in his next over.
When veteran David Warner top-edged off-spinner Mohammad Nabi to fine leg for three, Australia were wobbling but Maxwell came to their rescue, putting on 39 for the fourth wicket with Stoinis (12) and staging a recovery.
He had struck a half-dozen fours and three sixes when he sliced Gulbadin to backward point where Noor Ahmad dived forward to take an outstanding catch in the 15th over, a dismissal that changed the trajectory of the game.
Afghanistan seized the moment, slicing through the Australian tail as the last four wickets fell for 19 runs.
The win set up an interesting scenario for the group. Afghanistan is third on two points with their pivotal final game against Bangladesh looming on Monday at the same venue, and can now possibly clinch a semi-final spot if they win and second-placed Australia fail to beat group leaders India in St Lucia also on Monday.
Summerise Scores
AFGHANISTAN 148 for six off 20 overs (Rahmanullah Gurbaz 60, Ibrahim Zadran 51; Pat Cummins 3-28) vs AUSTRALIA 127 off 19.2 overs (Glenn Maxwell 59; Gulbadin Naib 4-20, Naveen-ul-Haq 3-20)
(CMC)
