Afghanistan pulled off a remarkable 21-run victory against Australia in St Vincent to keep their T20 World Cup hopes alive. In a must-win situation to avoid elimination, Afghanistan set a challenging total of 148-6, thanks to an opening partnership of 118 between Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran.
Australia struggled early on at 32-3 but was revived by a quick half-century from Glenn Maxwell. Just as Australia seemed to have gained the upper hand, Gulbadin Naib turned the game around by dismissing key batsmen Marcus Stoinis, Tim David, and Maxwell. Australia’s innings crumbled from 106-6 to 113-9, leading to Afghanistan’s historic victory in the final over. This win marked Afghanistan’s first triumph over Australia in any form of cricket and propelled them back into contention for a spot in the semi-finals.
Gulbadin Naib was named player of the match and expressed his excitement about the victory, saying “This is a great moment for me, my nation, my people.” Rashid Khan, Afghanistan’s captain, highlighted the importance of this win and their ambitions to reach the semi-finals, stating that this victory is just the beginning for them.
Looking ahead, Afghanistan will face Bangladesh in their final Super 8s match with a chance to secure their place in the semi-finals. Meanwhile, Australia will take on India in their next fixture and will likely need a win to advance to the last four. The surprising result of this match has added an exciting twist to the T20 World Cup tournament.
The unpredictable nature of cricket continues as teams compete for a spot in the semi-finals. The remaining matches are sure to be thrilling as players showcase their skills and determination on the field.