AUS vs AFG, T20 WC 2024 Super 8: Gulbadin Naib, Naveen ul Haq Shine As Afghanistan Stun Australia To Keep Semifinal Hopes Alive

Gulbadin Naib and Naveen-ul-Haq emerged as star performers as Afghanistan pulled off a big upset with a 21-run win over Australia in the T20 World Cup 2024 Super 8 match in St. Vincent.

After posting a total of 148/6 in 20 overs, Afghanistan bundled out Australia for 127 in 19.2 overs. Gulbadin Naib led the bowling attack brilliantly as he picked four wickets while conceding just 20 runs in four overs. While, Naveen-ul-Haq registered the figures 3/20 with an economy rate of 5 in four overs.

Apart from Naib and Naveen, Rashid Khan, Mohammad Naib and Azmatullah Omarzai contributed to Afghanistan's bowling by taking a wicket.

For Australia, Glenn Maxwell led the batting with an innings of 59 off 41 balls. However, the all-rounder's effort went in vain as the middle-order batters failed to step up for the team in crucial junctures of the run-chase.

Chasing 149-run target, Australia were triggered with early collapse as they lost three wickets in Travis Head (0), Mitchell Marsh (12) and David Warner (3) for 32 runs in 5.1 overs. Thereafter, Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis kept Australia's ship sailing with a 39-run partnership until the latter was dismissed for 11. Tim David had a short stay at the crease as he was removed for 2 at 85.

After David's dismissal, Glenn Maxwell anchored the innings for the team. Maxwell was looking to take the team past the line but his dismissal at 106/6 put a break on Australia's momentum. With 43 off 32 balls, Australia lost their last four wickets in Matthew Wade (5), Pat Cummins (3), Ashton Agar (2) and Adam Zampa (9) for 21 runs and eventually fell 22-run short of 149-run target.

Mid innings

Australia bowlers stepped up in the death overs to restrict Afghanistan to 148/6 after fireworks from the openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran in the first innings of the T20 World Cup Super 8 Group 1 match in St. Vincent.

After opting to bowl first, Australia were struggling to take a wicket until the death overs as Gurbaz and Zadran were unleashing their firepower at the top and took the team past the 100-run mark in 14 overs. However, in the 16th over, the 118-run partnership between Afghanistan openers came to an end after Rahmanullah Gurbaz was removed by Marcus Stoinis for 60. Earlier, Gurbaz somehow survived LBW and stumping off Adam Zampa's delivery.

After Rahmanullah Gurbaz's dismissal, Afghanistan lost two more wickets in Azmatullah Omarzai (2) and Ibrahim Zadran (51), both dismissed by Adam Zampa and they were at 122/3 in 17th over, Afghanistan's batting further collapsed after Pat Cummins dismissed Rashid Khan for 2 at 126/4.

Thereafter, Karim Janat and Mohammad Nabi were looking to form a good partnership in order to take Afghanistan past 150-run mark until the former was dismissed for 13 by Cummins at 141/5. Eventually, Afghanistam feel two runs short of going 150-run mark after Gulbadin Naib was removed for a golden duck by Pat Cummins. Mohammad Naib remained unbeaten on 10.

Pat Cummins registered the figures 3/28 with an economy rate 7 in four overs, while Adam Zampa picked two wickets while conceding 28 runs in three overs.

Published on: Sunday, June 23, 2024, 07:35 AM IST