T20 WC 2024, Super Eight: Gulbadin Naib and Naveen-ul-Haq script history as Afghanistan beat Australia by 21 runs - Cricket Winner

In a high-stakes encounter at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, Afghanistan delivered a stunning performance to defeat Australia by 21 runs at the Arnos Vale Ground in Kingstown, St Vincent. Opting to bat first after losing the toss, Afghanistan’s innings was marked by resilience and strategic batting despite the absence of Mitchell Starc from Australia’s bowling attack.

Facing challenging conditions with turn, seam, and swing on offer, Afghanistan’s openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Hazratullah Zadran laid a strong foundation. They navigated the early overs cautiously, reaching 40 runs without loss at the end of the powerplay. Gurbaz led the charge with a composed innings of 60 runs off 49 balls, which included four boundaries and as many sixes. Zadran provided crucial support with a patient 51 off 48 balls, setting up a formidable partnership of 118 runs.

Cummins’ hat-trick shifts momentum

Australia managed to break Afghanistan’s opening stand when Marcus Stoinis dismissed Gurbaz, disrupting the steady progress. Pat Cummins then turned the tide with a remarkable hat-trick, dismantling Afghanistan’s middle order and finishing with figures of 3/28. His crucial breakthroughs halted Afghanistan’s momentum in the latter stages of their innings, limiting them to 148 for 6 in their allotted 20 overs.

Afghanistan’s bowlers dominate

Chasing a target of 149 runs, Australia faced early setbacks as Naveen-ul-Haq struck early to dismiss Travis Head for a duck in the opening over. Despite a fighting innings of 59 runs off 41 balls by Glenn Maxwell, Australia struggled to build partnerships against Afghanistan’s disciplined bowling attack.

Gulbadin Naib emerged as the hero with a superb spell of 4/20, including the key dismissals of Maxwell and Stoinis in quick succession. Naveen-ul-Haq complemented Naib’s performance with 3/20, dismantling Australia’s batting lineup and ensuring they were bowled out for 127 in 19.2 overs.

Historic victory for Afghanistan

Afghanistan’s triumph over Australia marks their first-ever victory against the cricketing giants in Twenty20 Internationals, significantly impacting the dynamics of Group 1 in the Super Eight stage. Gulbadin Naib’s all-round performance earned him the well-deserved Player of the Match award, showcasing Afghanistan’s growing prowess and potential to disrupt higher-ranked teams in the tournament.

This historic win not only boosts Afghanistan’s morale but also underscores their emergence as a competitive force in international cricket. As the T20 World Cup 2024 progresses, Afghanistan’s spirited display promises more excitement and challenges for their opponents, making them a team to watch closely in the remaining matches of the tournament.

See Also: [Watch] T20 World Cup 2024, Super Eight: Back-to-back hat-trick for Pat Cummins; History created in Afghanistan vs Australia – Cricket Winner

Player of the Match Gulbadin Naib

Gulbadin Naib, Player of the Match: We were waiting for a long time. Great moment for me, my nation, my people. Big achievement for our cricket. Thanks to our fans for supporting our cricket journey. We worked hard for the last 2 months, and the result is in front of you. The wicket wasn’t easy to bat on, the ball was too bouncy. I took two wickets early on, and carried that on later. Thanks to Rashid for trusting me. This was a complete team effort. The way Naveen bowled, the way Gurbaz and Ibrahim batted. We beat Australia at last! It is a great achievement for Afghanistan cricket, our history isn’t too much so this is a great achievement. We played great cricket in the last World Cup, and this year we beat New Zealand in the group stage. Our journey starts now. We have great management and I’m very fortunate to have this team. Every game is important, we will rest tomorrow and think about it.

Hat-tricks in consecutive international matches
Wasim Akram vs Sri Lanka (Tests, 1999)
Pat Cummins vs Bangladesh and Afghanistan (T20 WC 2024)
Australia’s Jimmy Matthews bagged two hat-tricks in the same Test against South Africa at Old Trafford in 1912.

Best bowling against AUS in T20 WCs
4/11 – Ravichandran Ashwin, Mirpur, 2014
4/20 – Gulbadin Naib, Kingstown, 2024*
4/26 – Shadab Khan, Dubai, 2021

Most consecutive wins in T20 WCs
8 – Australia (2022-2024) – streak ended today
7 – England (2010-2012)
7 – India (2012-2014)
6 – Australia (2010)
6 – Sri Lanka (2009)
6 – India (2007-2009)