Inspired Afghanistan stuns Australia, keeps World Cup semi-final hopes alive

-Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran shared an opening stand of 118 before Gulbadin Naib took over to lead Afghanistan to a 21-run victory over Australia in St. Vincent on Saturday and keep their hopes of reach the semi-finals of the Twenty20 World Cup.

A win for Australia would have propelled the 2021 champions and India into the last four, but even a second hat-trick in as many matches from Pat Cummins was not enough to keep their unbeaten run at the tournament intact.

Half-centuries from Gurbaz and Zadran helped the Afghans accumulate 148-6 in their 20 overs, before their bowlers dismissed the Australians for 127 on a tricky Kingstown track.

Naib won 4-20 and Naveen-ul-Haq 3-20, but it was the tournament-winning third-century partnership between Gurbaz and Zadran that laid the foundations for a victory that also kept Bangladesh alive.

“We waited a long time,” said man of the match Naib.

“It’s a great moment for our nation and our people. I have no words, but thanks to the fans who supported us in our cricket career and journey… Thank God we finally beat the Australia This is a great achievement for Afghanistan.

“We have achieved a lot in the last 10 years, but this one is huge.”

India lead Group 1 with four points, ahead of Australia and Afghanistan with two points, with Bangladesh alone in last place with none.

India and Australia will clash in St Lucia on Monday, while the Afghans will remain in St Vincent to face Bangladesh in the final Super Eight match later in the day.

Australian skipper Mitchell Marsh won the toss and sprung a few surprises by sending the Afghans into bat and naming a side with left-arm spinner Ashton Agar in the bowling line-up in place of Mitchell Starc.

In the early overs, it looked like the Australian bowlers were going to stifle the Afghans, but the absence of a game-changing wicket allowed Gurbaz and Zadran to settle in and accelerate through the middle overs.

Crisp hitting and hard running from the Afghans put the pressure back on the Australians, who made some uncharacteristic errors on the field under the lights at Arnos Vale Ground.

Both men reached their half-centuries before Marcus Stoinis finally separated them in the 16th over, when Gurbaz mistimed a shot to David Warner at deep square leg to depart for 60.

Spinner Adam Zampa removed Azmatullah Omarzai and Zadran in the next over and paceman Cummins dismissed skipper Rashid Khan cheaply with the last ball of the 18th over.

Karim Janat and Naib followed with the first two deliveries of the 20th over as Cummins became the first bowler to take two hat-tricks in a T20 World Cup.

He would have claimed four wickets in a row had Warner kept a reasonably simple catch from deep point to dismiss Nangeyalia Kharote.

“They had 20 points too many,” admitted Marsh.

“To be honest, they played a very good game of cricket. We were outplayed tonight… It was an off night on the field and that’s on us.”

Afghanistan got off to the best possible start with the ball in hand with Naveen playing Travis Head for a duck in the opener and having Marsh caught in the deep for 12 in the third over.

Warner followed for three points from Mohammad Nabi’s early delivery to leave the Australians struggling 32-3 in the powerplay final, before the Afghans heaped more pressure on their opponents by eliminating Stoinis and Tim David .

The explosive Glenn Maxwell gave Australia some hope with 59 from 41 balls, but his dismissal by Naib, courtesy of an acrobatic catch from Noor Ahmad, all but sealed the fate of the former champions.

“I learned in the batting innings how to bowl,” added Naib, who also took a low dive to dismiss Ashton Agar.

“Thanks to Rashid for trusting me, it’s a team effort, Rahmanullah, Zadran and also Naveen for the momentum.”

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