* Stunning overall all round performance gives Afghans a historic and memorable win – Super 8 (Match 48)
Afghanistan delivered a stunning performance to secure their first-ever T20I victory over Australia, winning by a significant margin. The match, played on a tricky pitch, saw Afghanistan capitalize on their strong opening partnership and exceptional bowling to blow Group 1 of the Super Eight stage wide open.
Mitchell Marsh’s decision to bowl first on what many thought was a batting-friendly pitch raised eyebrows. However, Afghanistan’s openers, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran, quickly validated the decision with a gritty 100-plus stand. Both batsmen reached their fifties, setting a solid foundation for their side. Unfortunately, neither could push on, and the middle order struggled to build on this start. Consistent performances from Adam Zampa and a historic hat-trick from Pat Cummins kept Australia in contention. Mohammad Nabi’s boundary on the final ball nudged Afghanistan close to the 150-run mark, ending their innings at 149.
Australia’s chase began disastrously. Travis Head fell for a duck to Naveen-ul-Haq in the first over, and David Warner looked tentative before departing. Skipper Mitchell Marsh tried to counter-attack but couldn’t sustain his innings. Glenn Maxwell’s heroic 59 reignited hopes of a dramatic turnaround, reminiscent of last year’s ODI World Cup, but a brilliant catch by Noor Ahmad cut his innings short. Without Maxwell, Australia’s batting lineup faltered, and they were eventually bowled out, unable to mount a significant challenge.
Afghanistan’s bowlers were pivotal in their victory. Naveen-ul-Haq’s early strike set the tone, and Gulbadin Naib’s sensational spell in the second half, claiming four wickets, dismantled Australia’s batting order. Naveen-ul-Haq returned to the attack, finishing with three wickets in total. Azmatullah Omarzai rounded off the fine display by taking the final wicket, sealing the win for Afghanistan and bundling out Australia.
The victory left Afghanistan’s players in jubilant celebration, marking a historic moment in their cricketing journey. It dealt a hefty blow to Australia’s aspirations of holding the Test, ODI, and T20I World Championships simultaneously. For Afghanistan, this win was a perfect execution, rectifying last year’s near-miss in the ODI World Cup and leaving the Super Eight stage wide open.
Chief Scores :-
Afghanistan – 148 for 6 in 20 overs (Rahmanullah Gurbaz 60, Ibrahim Zadran 51, Karim Janat 13, Pat Cummins 3 for 28, Adam Zampa 2 for 28)
Australia – 127 for 10 in 20 overs (Glenn Maxwell 59, Mitchell Marsh 12, Marcus Stoinis 11, Gulbadin Naib 4 for 20, Naveen Ul Haq 3 for 20)
Player of the Match – Gulbadin Naib (4 for 20)
