KATHMANDU: Afghanistan achieved one of their greatest cricketing victories by defeating Australia for the first time, overcoming a second straight Pat Cummins hat-trick to spoil the Aussies’ unbeaten run at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
This win puts Afghanistan and Australia neck-and-neck to join India in the next phase of the tournament.
Australia’s skipper, Mitch Marsh, won the toss and opted to field first—a decision that quickly proved questionable.
Afghanistan’s openers executed their plan with patience and precision, scoring boundaries without losing wickets during the Powerplay.
By the end of the first six overs, Afghanistan was at 40/0.
Continuing their momentum, Afghanistan reached 64/0 at the midpoint of the innings.
Despite the pitch favoring spinners, Agar and Adam Zampa struggled, with Zampa conceding 13 runs in the 13th over, including two boundaries and a missed stumping opportunity by keeper Matthew Wade.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran both reached their half-centuries, putting pressure on the Australian side.
The tide began to turn when Gurbaz was dismissed by Marcus Stoinis in the 16th over. Zampa then took two crucial wickets in the next over, including Zadran’s, leaving Afghanistan three down quickly.
Pat Cummins, having completed an unlikely hat-trick against Bangladesh, achieved another hat-trick, finishing with figures of 3/28.
Despite several dropped catches and defensive errors, Australia managed to restrict Afghanistan to 148/6 off their 20 overs.
Afghanistan’s bowling attack, led by Rashid Khan, immediately put Australia under pressure.
Naveen-ul-Haq bowled Aussie opener Travis Head in his third delivery and then dismissed Marsh in his second over, leaving Australia reeling.
Glenn Maxwell, Australia’s hero in their previous ODI World Cup clash, managed to hit two boundaries in the fifth over.
However, the dismissal of David Warner gave Afghanistan a firm grip by the end of the Powerplay, with Australia at 33/3.
Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis lifted Australia to 70/3 at the innings’ midpoint.
However, Stoinis fell shortly after drinks, and Tim David followed with a cheap dismissal.
Maxwell’s half-century brought some hope, but Gulbadin Naib’s excellent delivery tempted Maxwell into a shot that was brilliantly caught by Noor Ahmad.
With Wade’s top edge leaving Australia at 108/7 and Cummins unable to replicate his bowling form with the bat, Australia needed 36 runs from the final three overs.
Afghanistan’s fielding was outstanding, converting every opportunity into a wicket.
The dismissal of Zampa sealed Australia’s fate, as they were bowled out for 127, falling 22 runs short.
This historic victory marked Afghanistan’s first win over Australia and one of the team’s most celebrated achievements.
ICC
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