Cricket Showdown: Afghanistan Stun Australia in Thrilling T20 World Cup Clash
In a high-stakes T20 World Cup encounter, Afghanistan pulled off a stunning 21-run victory over Australia, knocking the defending champions out of the tournament. The match was a rollercoaster ride, filled with nail-biting moments and impressive individual performances.
Earlier, Pat Cummins had bagged a second consecutive hat-trick, but it would be overshadowed by Afghanistan’s big day. Opting to bat first, Afghanistan’s opening pair of Gurbaz and Ibrahim put on a solid partnership, with both batters scoring half-centuries. Despite a slow start, the duo accelerated in the middle overs to take the team to a respectable total of 148/6.
Australia’s chase got off to a nightmare start, with their top order crumbling against the Afghan seamers. However, Glenn Maxwell showed his class with a blistering 59 off just 41 balls, keeping his team in the hunt. But just when it seemed like Maxwell would guide Australia to victory, Gulbadin Naib and Noor Ahmad combined to dismiss the dangerous all-rounder, shifting the momentum back in Afghanistan’s favor.
Naib then used the conditions to his advantage, claiming career-best T20I figures of 4/20 to help dismiss Australia for 127, securing a famous win for Afghanistan. This was their first victory over Australia across formats, a testament to their growth as a cricketing nation.
“This is a historic moment for Afghanistan cricket,” said captain Mohammad Nabi. “We believed in ourselves and played with passion and determination to achieve this remarkable win.”
With this result, Afghanistan have taken a giant stride towards a semi-final spot, while Australia’s title defense has been cut short. The match was a true testament to the unpredictability and excitement of 100-ball cricket, captivating fans worldwide.
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