Kingstown, St Vincent: In a stunning upset at the Arnos Vale Ground, Afghanistan triumphed over Australia by 21 runs in a thrilling T20 World Cup clash. Gulbadin Naib’s exceptional bowling performance, claiming 4 wickets for 20 runs, combined with Naveen-ul-Haq’s 3 wickets for 20 runs, proved decisive as Afghanistan kept their tournament hopes alive.
The match began with Afghanistan’s openers showing resilience on a challenging pitch, amassing 40 runs without loss during the powerplay. Hazratullah Zazai and Rahmanullah Gurbaz led the charge, each scoring half-centuries and setting a solid foundation for their team.
Australia, however, fought back with Pat Cummins making history by securing a hat-trick, the first bowler to achieve this feat in consecutive T20 World Cup games. Despite this, Australia’s inconsistent fielding undermined their efforts as they faced an uphill task to chase Afghanistan’s total.
Post-match, Gulbadin Naib, named Player of the Match for his stellar bowling display, expressed his joy: “This is a great moment for our country.”
With this victory, Afghanistan’s path to the T20 World Cup knockout stages remains open, contingent upon upcoming results. Meanwhile, Australia finds itself in a precarious position, needing a win in their next match to stay in contention.
Key Highlights:
- Gulbadin Naib’s impressive figures of 4/20 against Australia.
- Afghanistan’s solid opening partnership and aggressive batting display.
- Pat Cummins’ historic achievement with two consecutive T20 World Cup hat-tricks.
- Afghanistan’s hopes alive; Australia’s future uncertain in T20 World Cup 2024.
Key Points:
- Result: Afghanistan defeated Australia by 21 runs.
- Venue: Arnos Vale Ground, Kingstown, St Vincent.
- Bowling Performances:
- Gulbadin Naib: 4 wickets for 20 runs.
- Naveen-ul-Haq: 3 wickets for 20 runs.
- Batting Highlights:
- Afghanistan’s openers, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Hazratullah Zazai, had a strong start with a 118-run partnership.
- Both batsmen scored half-centuries, setting a competitive total.
- Pat Cummins’ Hat-Trick:
- Pat Cummins achieved a hat-trick, becoming the first player in T20 World Cup history to achieve this feat in consecutive matches.
- Fielding Issues:
- Australia’s poor fielding contributed to their loss, with missed chances impacting their ability to restrict Afghanistan.
- Importance for Teams:
- Afghanistan’s win keeps them in contention for the T20 World Cup knockout stages.
- Australia now faces a must-win situation in their next match to stay alive in the tournament.
- Player of the Match:
- Gulbadin Naib was awarded Player of the Match for his exceptional bowling performance.
- Quotable:
- Gulbadin Naib expressed delight, calling the victory “a great moment for our country.”
- Historic Achievement:
- Pat Cummins made history as the first bowler to take two hat-tricks in T20 World Cup history.
These key points summarize the significant events and outcomes of the match between Afghanistan and Australia in the T20 World Cup 2024.
