T20 World Cup 2024, AFG vs AUS 48th Match, Super Eights, Group 1 Match Report, June 22, 2024

Afghanistan 148 for 6 (Gurbaz 60, Ibrahim 51, Cummins 3-28, Zampa 2-28) scored Australia 127 (Maxwell 59, Gulbadin 4-20, Naveen 3-20) by 21 runs

With a semi-final spot on the line, top-seeded Australia were eliminated by the seamers of Afghanistan.

Naib used those conditions to his advantage to come out with T20I best figures of 4 for 20 to help dismiss Australia for 127 runs. Introduced as the eighth bowler, Naib dismissed Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Tim David and Pat Cummins to seal the title for Afghanistan. a famous victory, the first over Australia in all formats.

Opening act

Both openers made half-centuries, leaving Australia to wait until the 16th over to win. Never before has Australia waited so long for a wicket in T20Is.

Gurbaz and Ibrahim played 21 runs in the first four overs where they managed to score only 17 runs. But in the next two overs they doubled the score, ending the powerplay at 40 for 0.

Gurbaz then jumped out of his head to bowl straight sixes to Adam Zampa and Ibrahim created room for the swing to bowl Ashton Agar over point to cover for four. Australia selected the left-arm spinner, ahead of Mitchell Starc, to take on Afghanistan’s right-handed batting line-up in a spin-friendly environment, but he was bowled out (4-1-17-0).

Gurbaz and Ibrahim played many games to cope with the Australian attack. Ibrahim could have been sent off in the 11th if Zampa had not wasted a difficult chance on the pitch; he finally passed it until he reached the border. Ibrahim got another life on 32 when Stoinis curled a double. Australia continued to be uncharacteristically sloppy on the field, and Afghanistan capitalized on many missed opportunities.

Coming back

Cummins led Australia’s comeback at the death by claiming his second hat-trick in three days. On Saturday at St Vincent’s, he dismissed Rashid Khan, Karim Janat and Naib in the 18th and 20th overs. When he did well against Bangladesh, Cummins said he forgot he had scored a goal, but on Saturday against Afghanistan, he knew it, raising his hands in celebration before Maxwell caught the ball. Cummins would have had four for four had David Warner not dropped Nangeyalia Kharote on the next ball. From 118 for 0 in the 16th over, Afghanistan finished with 148 for 6, and it was anyone’s game in the middle order.

Double strike for Naveen

Afghanistan are used to Fazalhaq Farooqi hitting repeatedly in the powerplay, but here is Naveen-ul-Haq who has broken the Australian top order. After taking the first two balls from Travis Head, Naveen threatened to send one back to the batsman at an angle around the wicket, but the ball swung badly to make Head look silly and crash into the middle stump. In his next over, Naveen cut Mitchell Marsh through mid off with a slow 108kph ball that would have made Dwayne Bravo, Afghanistan’s bowling coordinator and Naveen’s teammate at Texas Super Kings, proud.

Hello again, Maxwell

Australia were 16 for 2 in three overs. Maxwell entered. He started work with two fours off Omarzai in three balls and dropped rookie left-arm pacer Kharote without a strike. He first changed Kharote past slip for four and swept him powerfully over midwicket for 13 runs. Kharote was finished with the ball after just one over.

Maxwell again took calculated risks against Rashid and kept Australia in touch with the asking price. When he reached his half-century with a 6 off Naib, the ghosts of Mumbai 2023 may have resurfaced in Afghanistan.

Gulbadin flexes his muscles

However, Naib helped them to exorcise the ghosts.

Australia were 94 in 5 overs, with Maxwell and Wade finishing in the middle. Naib had already dismissed Stoinis and David in his first two overs. Naib was not even part of Plan A for Afghanistan. With the spinners committing errors, especially on Maxwell, Rashid targeted Naib, who responded with two more wickets.

Naib does not have great pace, but he has been hitting high and the ball reacts differently from it. After stopping Maxwell in his third over, he flexed his muscles and let out a roar that could have been heard in Kabul. Afghanistan fans at St Vincent’s roared with their hero and waved flags.

In his final over, Naib fooled Cummins with a short cut before Rashid and Farooqi sealed the deal for Afghanistan.