Cricket Highlights, June 22: T20 WC 2024 (Match 48) – Australia vs Afghanistan

Australia vs Afghanistan (Match 48) – Highlights

In this article, we will discuss the thrilling T20 World Cup match between Afghanistan and Australia, where Afghanistan secured a historic 21-run victory. Despite Glenn Maxwell’s valiant effort for Australia, Afghanistan’s seamers, led by Gulbadin Naib’s career-best figures, dismantled the Australian batting line-up. Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran’s resilient partnership laid the foundation for Afghanistan’s competitive total, ultimately leading to their first-ever win over Australia across all formats.

Afghanistan triumphed over Australia by 21 runs in a crucial match, scoring 148 for 6, with contributions from Rahmanullah Gurbaz (60) and Ibrahim Zadran (51). Pat Cummins (3-28) and Adam Zampa (2-28) were the pick of the bowlers for Australia, but they couldn’t prevent Afghanistan from posting a competitive total.

Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran set the tone with their third century partnership of the tournament, becoming the first pair to achieve this feat in any T20I series. Their solid foundation ensured Afghanistan posted a challenging total.

Both openers reached their fifties, forcing Australia to wait until the 16th over for a breakthrough, a record delay for Australia in T20Is. Gurbaz and Ibrahim initially struggled, facing 21 dot balls in the first four overs and scoring only 17 runs. However, they accelerated in the next two overs, more than doubling their score to end the powerplay at 40 for no loss.

Gurbaz then confidently advanced down the pitch to hit Adam Zampa for a six, while Ibrahim created space to drive Ashton Agar for a boundary over cover-point. Australia’s decision to play the left-arm spinner Agar, ahead of Mitchell Starc, to exploit Afghanistan’s right-hander-heavy line-up on a spin-friendly pitch, backfired as Agar went wicketless, finishing with figures of 4-1-17-0.

Gurbaz and Ibrahim executed calculated shots to handle the conditions and the Australian bowlers effectively. Ibrahim had a stroke of luck when Zampa dropped a tough chance in the outfield, allowing the ball to roll to the boundary, giving Ibrahim a reprieve on 11. 

He got a reprieve on 32 when Marcus Stoinis missed a return catch. Australia’s uncharacteristically poor fielding performance allowed Afghanistan to capitalize on these opportunities and secure a memorable win.

With a semi-final berth on the line, Australia’s top order struggled against Afghanistan’s seamers. Glenn Maxwell attempted to mount a counter-attack with a series of audacious shots, including a cheeky four off Azmatullah Omarzai that brought a smile to his face. 

After reaching a quick-fire 50 from 35 balls, Maxwell signaled confidently to the Australian dressing room, appearing poised to lead his team to the final four and eliminate Afghanistan. However, Gulbadin Naib and Noor Ahmad combined to dismiss Maxwell for 59 off 41 balls, ending Australia’s hopes. 

Naib cleverly bowled a delivery that Maxwell couldn’t reach, leading to a superb low catch by Noor at backward point. After Maxwell departed the game, Australia needed 43 runs from 32 balls on a St. Vincent surface that produced both turn and erratic bounce, and they were 106 for 6 in the fifteenth over.

Naib capitalized on these conditions, achieving career-best T20I figures of 4 for 20, which helped bowl Australia out for 127 and secured Afghanistan’s historic victory over Australia in any format. Earlier in the match, Cummins had claimed a hat-trick in consecutive World Cup games and nearly achieved four wickets in four balls, but the day belonged to Naib and Afghanistan.

Australia vs Afghanistan Scoreboard

Afghanistan – 148/6(20.0)

Australia– 127 (19.2)

Result – Afghanistan won by 21 runs

Player of the match – Gulbadin Naib

Gulbadin Naib

Australia vs Afghanistan Playing XIs

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