Afghanistan beat Australia in massive T20 World Cup upset
Australia’s T20 World Cup campaign is in strife after Afghanistan claimed their first ever win in cricket over the Aussies in a massive upset.
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Afghanistan have defeated Australia for the first time in international cricket, producing a huge 21-run upset to flip the T20 World Cup on its head.
Australia could have guaranteed their place in the semifinals with a win, but Afghanistan had other ideas in the Super 8 clash in St Vincent.
Mitch Marsh won the toss and chose to bowl on a spin friendly pitch, with Ashton Agar picked over Mitchell Starc.
Afghanistan’s openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran put on 118 in their opening stand, leaving Australia wicketless for 15 overs — by far the longest stretch they had gone without taking a wicket in a T20 international.
Pat Cummins claimed his second hat-trick in as many games as Afghanistan posted a competitve total of 148.
No longer minnows of world cricket, Afghanistan now have one of the most well balanced teams in white ball cricket led by leg spinner Rashid Khan and they were flawless in the field.
It was paceman Gulbadin Naib who starred with 4/20 and an excellent catch to dismiss Agar and seal victory.
Glenn Maxwell’s recordbreaking double century eliminated Afghanistan at last year’s ODI World Cup and it looked like be was going to rescue Australia once again.
But Maxwell’s dismissal for 59 triggered a collapse — he was the only Australian batter to score more than 12 runs.
The Aussies had won 10 out their last 11 T20 internationals but now risk being eliminated from the T20 World Cup.
Australia and Afghanistan are now tied on two points in Group 1. Australia play India on Tuesday in a must win game, and Afghanistan will be favoured to beat Bangladesh.
The shock loss means Australia’s quest to win the T20 World Cup and claim the only trophy missing from their cabinet is now in serious doubt.
Australia exited the last T20 World Cup on home soil before the knockout stage, and will be desperate to avoid the same fate this time around.
The cricket world was in complete awe of Afghanistan’s upset win.
Bharat Sundaresan wrote on X: “For years now, Gulbadin Naib has been showing off his guns. On what will be a historic night for Afghanistan, he’s been the Gun performer for a fired-up Afghan team. A wicket in each of his 4 overs. Stoinis, David, Maxwell & Cummins & a great catch to cap it off.”
Neroli Meadows said: “Stunning performance this from Afghanistan!!!”
Former bowler Trent Copeland said: “Huge for Afghanistan. A Maxwell ridiculous 200 away from the 50-over WC semi finals. Now this. Massive!”
Lisa Sthalekar said: “This is another historic victory for the Afghanistan side. They have read the conditions better, but more importantly executed well!!
“Australia’s fielding again has been questionable, 6 opportunities missed whereas on the flip side Afghanistan have taken some rippers!!!”
Ricky Ponting said in commentary: “They have outplayed Australia, no doubt about it.”
Ian Smith said in commentary: “I’m not saying this is David and Goliath, because they’re better than David, Afghanistan.
“But what a statement this is making for them, this is huge. This is so important for them.”
1.36pm - Afghanistan on fire
Afghanistan are on the cusp of a famous victory after dismissing Glenn Maxwell and Matthew Wade in quick succession.
Maxwell was out for 59 off 41 balls when he was caught at point, before Rashid Khan brought himself back into the attack.
Wade miscued a sweep shot off Rashid and Karim Janat took an excellent diving catch.
Australia are 7/108 with Pat Cummins and Ashton Agar now batting.
1.19pm - David dudded by umpire’s call
It’s game on. The Aussies are 5/85 after Tim David was given out LBW for two off four balls.
David was hit on the pads by paceman Gulbadin Naib, and the umpire took some time to raise his finger.
The Aussie power hitter reviewed the decision, thinking the ball was sliding down the leg side.
But DRS showed the ball just clipping the top off the leg stump, and the decision went back to the umpire’s on field decision.
Matthew Wade is the new man in the middle, joining Glenn Maxwell with a lot of work to do.
Maxwell has reached his 50 off 35 balls.
1.05pm - Stoinis gone, Aussies four down
Australia are 4/71 with seamer Gulbadin Noab dismissing Marcus Stoinis with a bouncer that he top edged to the wicketkeeper.
The Aussies require 78 from 58 balls with Tim David joining Glenn Maxwell at the crease.
12.44pm - Warner falls, panic stations for Aussies
David Warner is out for three off eight balls after he top edged an attempted slog sleep off spinner Mohammad Nabi.
Australia are now 3/32 with Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis at the crease with a serious job to do.
12.20pm - Aussies in all sorts of trouble
Travis Head is gone for a three-ball duck after Naveen Ul-Haq clean bowled the Aussie opener with an absolute seed.
“That is an absolutely amazing delivery,” Matthew Hayden said in commentary.
Afghanistan’s bowling attack is their strength and suddenly Australia could face a very nervous chase.
Lisa Sthalekar said: “Good luck to anyone defending that type of delivery. Absolute peach of a ball.
“Gee these guys are up and about aren’t they. They can sense there’s a bit of blood in the water. They’re hunting as a pack.”
Naveen struck again, dismissing Mitch Marsh for 12 to have the Aussies in trouble at 2/16.
11.50pm - Cummins scores second hat-trick in a row
Cummins finished with 3/28 and a second hat-trick in as many games. He snared Karim Janat, Rashid Khan and Gulbadin Naib to help tilt momentum back in Australia’s favour.
The Aussie fast bowler was taken by surprise with his hat-trick against Bangladesh, but he knew he’d repeated the feat this time.
“Crazy. Played how many hundreds of games for Australia and got two in a row,” Cummins said.
Cummins is the 59th man to take a hat-trick in T20 internationals — he joins Lasith Malinga, Tim Southee, Mark Pavlovic and Waseem Abbas as only the fifth man to take multiple T20I hat-tricks.
Originally published as Afghanistan beat Australia in massive T20 World Cup upset
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