New Delhi: In a major upset at the T20 World Cup 2024, Afghanistan defeated Australia in the Super 8 match held in Kingstown, a city in the Caribbean. This victory marks Afghanistan's first win over Australia in T20 World Cup history.
The match, played on Sunday, June 23, 2024, saw Afghanistan batting first and scoring 148 runs for the loss of 6 wickets in 20 overs. Australia's chase fell short as they were bowled out for 127 runs, failing to play the full 20 overs and losing wickets consistently. Afghanistan's innings were anchored by openers Rahmatullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran. Gurbaz scored 60 runs off 49 balls, while Zadran contributed 51 runs off 48 balls, setting a solid foundation. However, no other Afghan batsman made significant contributions with the bat.
Australia's batting lineup, known for its strength, struggled during the chase. Glenn Maxwell was the only standout performer for Australia, scoring 59 runs off 41 balls. Seven Australian batsmen failed to reach double digits, leading to their collapse. Mitchell Marsh and Marcus Stoinis managed to score 12 and 11 runs respectively.
Afghanistan's bowlers delivered an exceptional performance, with Gulbadin Naib leading the attack by taking 4 wickets for just 20 runs in one over. Naveen Ul Haq also impressed, claiming 3 wickets for 20 runs in his 4 overs. Rashid Khan, Azmatullah Omarzai, and Mohammad Nabi each took one wicket, ensuring Australia never gained momentum.
Australia's defeat puts their chances of progressing in the T20 World Cup at risk. Their next match against India is crucial; a loss could see them eliminated if Afghanistan wins their upcoming match against Bangladesh. The match also saw a remarkable achievement by Australia's captain, Pat Cummins. He took a hat-trick against Afghanistan, adding to his hat-trick from the previous match against Bangladesh. Cummins is now the first player to take hat-tricks in consecutive matches in T20 World Cup history.
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