AFG Vs AUS, T20 World Cup 2024: Afghanistan Beat Australia For First Time Ever, Keep Semifinal Hopes Alive

New Delhi: Gulbadin Naib and Naveen-ul-Haq shared seven wickets between the as Afghanistan scripted history by beating heavyweights Australia by 21 runs for the first time ever on Sunday in a Super 8 clash of the ongoing World Cup. With this win, Afghanistan kept their semifinals hopes alive with one win from two games. Afghanistan’s final Group 1 match will be against Bangladesh On Monday.

This was Australia’s first loss against Afghanistan in six international matches. With this win, Afghanistan have clearly opened the group for the semifinal race. India are on top of Group 1 with two wins from as many games. Both Australia and Afghanistan have one win from two games each.

Afghanistan’s win also meant that India need to win their final Super 8 game against Australia for a place in the semifinals. If Afghanistan beat Bangladesh in their final game, then they will qualify for semifinals. On the other hand, Australia would pray Afghanistan to lose against Bangladesh as that would pave their way into the last four in the tournament.

Afghanistan’s victory against Australia also comes as a revenge after Glenn Maxwell single-handedly defeated the Asian side in the ODI World Cup 2023 with an unbeaten 201. Defending a below-par 149, all-rounder Naib produced his career-best figures of 4/20 and Naveen snared 3/20 as Australia were bundled out for 127 in 19.2 overs. Afghanistan had earlier defeated New Zealand in the group stage.

Maxwell was the top-scorer for Australia with 59 as none of his teammates could stand in front of the Afghanistan attack. Earlier, Afghanistan rode on openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz (60) and Ibrahim Zadran’s (51) half centuries to post 148/6.

The game also saw Pat Cummins becoming the first bowler in the history of the game to take back-to-back hat-tricks in T20 World Cups. Cummins dismissed Rashid Khan, Karim Janat and Gulabdin Naib for his hat-trick. Cummins had also achieved the same against Bangladesh two days before.

“Thanks to dear Allah. We’ve waited for a long time. Big moment for our nation and our people. I have no words to say but thanks to the fans who have supported us in our career and cricket journey. I learnt from the batting innings on how to bowl,” Player of the Match Naib said after the game.

“Thanks to Rashid for trusting me. It’s a whole team effort, Rahmanullah, Zadran, and also Naveen for the momentum. Thank God we finally beat Australia. It is a great achievement for Afghanistan, we have achieved many things in last ten years but this is a big achievement.

“In the last World Cup we played well and in this World Cup we beat New Zealand too. Australia are a champion side so for us it is a big tournament. Lucky to have this kind of team and management,” added Naib before wishing Eid Mubarak to his fans in Pashto with a personalised message.