Afghanistan stun Australia to shake up T20 World Cup semifinal race

Planet Sport writerStaff Writer23 June 2024
Australia v Afghanistan 2024

Australia v Afghanistan 2024

Despite Pat Cummins grabbing a hat-trick for the second successive match, Afghanistan edged Australia in a thrilling T20 World Cup Super 8 match in Kingstown, Jamaica.

Gulbadin Naib grabbed four for 20, including the crucial scalp of Glenn Maxwell, to complete a 21-run victory and set up a tense final round of matches in the Super 8 pool stage.

Openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz, the tournament's leading run-scorer, and Ibrahim Zadran got Afghanistan off to a good start in St Vincent as they put on 118 for the first wicket.

Marcus Stoinis broke the partnership in the 16th over when he had Gurbaz caught by David Warner for 60, Adam Zampa picking up the wickets of Zadran for 51 and Azmatullah Omarzai in the next over.

Cummins then took centre stage, dismissing Rashid Khan with the last ball of the 18th over with Karim Janat and Naib with the first two balls of the final over.

He was denied four wickets in four balls when Warner dropped a chance off Nangeyalia Kharote as Afghanistan reached 148 for six.

The Australian openers could not replicate the heroics of their opposition, Travis Head departing for a third-ball duck.

Mitch Marsh followed for 12 and David Warner for three as they slipped to 32 for three before Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis repaired the innings.

Maxwell was the only Australian who offered any resistance with 59, but once Naib dismissed them both, the innings subsided to 127 all out with Naveen-ul-Haq taking three for 20.

Australia take on India and Afghanistan face off with Bangladesh in the final pool matches with only India knowing a win is enough to guarantee a last-four spot with net run rate possibly making the difference.

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