Upset in St. Vincent: Afghanistan Stuns Australia at T20 World Cup

 

Upset in St. Vincent: Afghanistan Stuns Australia at T20 World Cup

The cricketing world witnessed a historic upset on Sunday AEST as Afghanistan pulled off a thrilling 21-run victory against Australia in a Super Eight clash at the T20 World Cup. This win marks Afghanistan's first-ever victory over Australia in any international format.

Openers Shine for Afghanistan

Electing to bat first, Afghanistan got off to a flying start thanks to a magnificent opening partnership between Rahmanullah Gurbaz (60 off 49) and Ibrahim Zadran (51 off 48). The duo defied a challenging St. Vincent wicket, stitching together a match-defining 118-run stand – the highest opening partnership for any team against Australia in men's T20s.

Cummins Provides Fightback, But Afghanistan Holds Strong

Australia's premier fast bowler, Pat Cummins (3-28), brought his A-game, claiming a hat-trick (his second in consecutive matches) and restricting Afghanistan's total to a manageable 148/6. However, the Afghan bowlers, led by the player-of-the-match Gulbadin Naib (4-20), rose to the occasion, making the most of the tricky conditions.

Australia's Batting Falters

Chasing a modest target, Australia's batting unit faltered under pressure. Openers Marcus Stoinis (1-19) managed a breakthrough with Gurbaz's wicket, but dropped catches and a sluggish start (3-32 after the powerplay) put them on the back foot.

Maxwell's Heroics Cut Short

Glenn Maxwell (59 off 41) showed signs of returning to form, threatening to repeat his heroics from the previous World Cup against Afghanistan. However, his dismissal by Naib in the 15th over proved to be a turning point, leaving Australia's hopes hanging by a thread.

Australia's Semi-Final Hopes in Jeopardy

The loss throws Australia's T20 World Cup campaign wide open. They might need a good net run rate and a victory against India in their final Super Eight match to progress to the semifinals. Captain Mitch Marsh acknowledged the team's off-night and praised Afghanistan for their exceptional performance.

Afghanistan Celebrates Historic Win

This victory is a monumental achievement for Afghanistan cricket, keeping their dream of a semifinal berth alive. Gulbadin, the hero of the match, expressed his delight and dedicated the win to his nation and people.

Missed Opportunities Haunt Australia

Australia's sloppy fielding, particularly in the early stages, proved costly. Dropped catches and misfields allowed Afghanistan's openers to build a strong foundation. It wasn't until the 16th over that Australia managed their first wicket, the longest they've gone without a breakthrough in a T20I.

Cummins Shines with the Ball, But Australia Falls Short

Despite Cummins' heroics with the ball, Australia's batting woes ultimately led to their downfall. Early dismissals of key batsmen and the inability to capitalize on Maxwell's knock sealed their fate. Naveen-ul-Haq (3-20) justified his inclusion in Afghanistan's starting lineup, removing Travis Head on the third ball of the innings, setting the tone for Australia's batting collapse.

Afghanistan Spin Tightens the Grip

The introduction of Afghan spin further dented Australia's hopes. Warner's dismissal off the first delivery by Mohammad Nabi (1-1) exposed the Australian middle order. With Maxwell's departure, the chase became increasingly improbable, leaving Australia all out for 127 in the final over.

This historic win by Afghanistan will undoubtedly be remembered as a significant moment in cricketing history. Australia, meanwhile, will need to regroup and deliver a strong performance against India to keep their semifinal hopes alive.