Before Gulbadin Naib took over, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran exchanged an opening partnership of 118 runs, which helped Afghanistan defeat Australia by 21 runs in St. Vincent on Saturday and maintain their chances of making it to the Twenty20 World Cup semi-finals.
Even Pat Cummins’ second hat-trick in as many games could not save Australia’s undefeated tournament record; a victory would have advanced the 2021 champions and India to the round of four.
The Afghans amassed 148-6 in their 20 overs thanks to half-centuries from Gurbaz and Zadran, before their bowlers bowled the Australians out for 127 on a challenging Kingstown ground.
While Naib scored 4–20 and Naveenul Haq scored 3–20, it was Gurbaz and Zadran’s third century partnership of the tournament that set up a victory and kept Bangladesh in the game.
“We’ve been waiting for this for a long time,” declared Naib, the player of the match.
It’s a significant time for our country and its citizens. I’m at a loss for words, but thank God we finally defeated Australia because of the supporters who helped us throughout our cricket careers and journey. That’s a huge accomplishment for Afghanistan.
“In the past ten years, we have accomplished a lot, but this is significant.”
Bangladesh is the only team in lowest place with zero points, followed by Australia and Afghanistan on two and India on four.
On Monday, India and Australia play in St Lucia, while later that day, the Afghans stay in St Vincent to play Bangladesh in the last Super Eight match.
Mitchell Marsh, the captain of Australia, won the toss and pulled off a pair of shocks by putting the Afghans in to bat and selecting a bowling lineup that included left-arm spinner Ashton Agar in lieu of Mitchell Starc.
It appeared as though the Australian bowlers would suffocate the Afghans in the early overs, but Gurbaz and Zadran were able to establish themselves and pick up speed through the middle overs because there was no breakthrough wicket.
The Afghans’ disciplined batting and relentless running put more strain on the Australians, who committed unusual fielding blunders in the Arnos Vale Ground’s lighting.
Before Marcus Stoinis was able to eventually separate them in the 16th over, Gurbaz had already hit his half-century mark when he miscuted a shot to David Warner at deep square leg, departing for 60.
In the next over, spinner Adam Zampa dismissed Azmatullah Omarzai (2) and Zadran (51) and pacer Cummins removed captain Rashid Khan cheaply with the last ball of the eighteenth over.
Cummins became the first bowler to take two hat-tricks at a T20 World Cup, with the first two deliveries of the 20th over coming from Karim Janat and Naib.
If Warner had held onto a fairly simple catch that came in coming in from deep point to remove Nangeyalia Kharote, he would have taken four wickets in a row.
Marsh said, “They got 20 runs too many.”
They really did play a great game of cricket, to be honest. Tonight, we were outplayed. We admit that it was a bad night in the field.
With the ball in hand, Afghanistan got off to the greatest possible start as Naveen bowled Travis Head for a duck in the first over and had Marsh caught in the deep for a 12-run score in the third.
In the last over of the power play, Warner went three for three off the first delivery from Mohammad Nabi, leaving the Australians floundering at 32-3. The Afghans then increased the pressure on their opponents by getting rid of Tim David and Stoinis.
With a valiant 59 off 41 balls, explosive Glenn Maxwell gave Australia some hope, but Naib’s dismissal of him, following a spectacular catch by Noor Ahmad, all but ended the previous champions’ chances.
“The batting innings taught me how to bowl,” Naib continued. He also made a diving low catch to remove Ashton Agar.
“It’s a team effort, Rahmanullah, Zadran, and Naveen for the momentum, and thanks to Rashid for believing in me.”
Now that I can sleep better: Rashid
After Afghanistan’s victory in the T20 World Cup on Saturday avenged their defeat to Australia in the 50-overs format last year, captain Rashid Khan can now finally look forward to getting a better night’s sleep.
Squeezed-in Afghanistan narrowly missed making it to the semi-finals as Australia emerged victorious in November because to Glenn Maxwell’s amazing double-century.
Khan told reporters, “I think I can sleep better now.”
“That game was on my thoughts all the time. We lost the game because of Maxi’s performance that evening, and I was up all night.
“I’m going to have too much happiness tonight to sleep.” That is the level of happiness shared by the entire nation and the squad. It’s a huge victory for us as a group and a country,” he declared.
We all know that the one thing that brings joy back home is cricket. And I think it’s quite fortunate that we are here, bringing joy to those back home.
Mitchell Marsh, the captain of Australia, remarked, “Yes, we had a bad night tonight, but I guess there’s also a positive in the fact that we go again in 36 hours.”
It’s a crucial match that needs to be won; it will undoubtedly be played against India.
“The boys will definitely be up and about for it, and if you look back at our short history as a team, I know for a fact that it brings out the best in our guys.”
