AUS vs AFG super 8: AFG beats AUS by 21 runs.
In the T20 World Cup 2024, a particularly thrilling match took place between Australia and Afghanistan at Arnos Vale Stadium. Australia won the toss and chose to bowl first. Afghanistan set a target of 149 runs. However, due to exceptional bowling by Afghanistan, Australia could only manage to score 127 runs, leading to a historic victory for Afghanistan.
Match Summary
Toss: Australia won the toss and elected to bowl first.
Venue: Arnos Vale Stadium
Toss: Australia win the toss and chose to bowl first.
Top Performers: AUS vs AFG super 8/
| Team | Player | Runs | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | Gulbadin Naib | ——– | 4/20 (4) |
| Afghanistan | Naveen-ul-Haq | ——– | 3/20 (4) |
| Afghanistan | Rahmananullah Gurbaz | 60 (49) | ——– |
| Australia | Galenn Maxwell | 59 (41) | ——– |
| Australia | Adam Zampa | ——– | 2/28 (4) |
| Australia | Pat Cummins | ——– | 3/28 (4) |
Australia Calls Tails, But Afghanistan Howls
Australia won the toss and opted to field first, a decision that might have backfired in spectacular fashion. The Afghan batsmen, led by the explosive Hazratullah Zazai, took the attack to the Aussie bowlers from the get-go. Zazai launched a rapid succession of boundaries, effortlessly locating gaps in the field .He was ably supported by the experienced Mohammad Nabi, who chipped in with a valuable knock.
Spinners Weave Their Magic
The pitch at Arnos Vale offered some assistance to the spinners, and Afghanistan’s Gulbadin Naib didn’t disappoint. The leg-spinner bamboozled the Australian batsmen with his guile and variations, picking up crucial wickets at regular intervals. Naveen-ul-Haq provided excellent support, keeping the scoring rate in check and claiming a couple of wickets himself.
Read more: T20 WC 2024: Cummins claims hat-trick against Ban
Australia Falters in the Chase
Despite restricting Afghanistan to a seemingly chaseable total, the Australian batting lineup crumbled under pressure. The loss of David Warner early in the innings set the tone for a nervous chase. The middle order, usually so dependable, failed to fire against the spin duo of Naveen-ul-Haq and Gulbadin Naib . Marcus Stoinis provided a late fightback with a valiant knock, but it wasn’t enough to take Australia over the finish line.
Who Stole the Show?
Rahmananullah Gurbaz swashbuckling knock at the top of the order laid the foundation for Afghanistan’s victory. However, the real hero of the match was undoubtedly Gulbadin Naib. His exceptional bowling display proved too much to handle for the mighty Australian batting lineup.
What Comes Next?
This sensational win has thrown the Super Eights stage wide open. Both Afghanistan and Australia will have to regroup and strategize for their upcoming matches of t20 world cup The cricketing world eagerly awaits to see how these teams will bounce back from this dramatic encounter.