Afghanistan scored 148/6 in 20 overs, where as Australia scored 127 in 19.2 overs.
So, finally Afghanistan beat Australia by 21 runs.
Afghanistan came agonizingly close to victory twice before, in 2022 and 2023, but on their third attempt, they seized their moment under the brilliant lights of the Arnos Vale Ground in St. Vincent by defeating cricket giants Australia with a remarkable all-round performance.
This historic win was propelled by a third-century partnership of the tournament between openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz (60) and Ibrahim Zadran (51).
However, the standout performance came from veteran Gulbadin Naib, who returned impressive figures of 4 for 20 while defending a modest total of 148.
His crucial wickets included that of Glenn Maxwell, who stood as the sole barrier between Afghanistan and what could be deemed their most significant victory in T20 World Cup history.
Where was the game clinched?
It was won in the initial phases of the match.
By the 15-over mark, Afghanistan had surged to 109/0, while Australia struggled at 108/6.
Although Afghanistan stumbled in the closing stages on a challenging, sticky surface, they managed to induce a similar collapse (7 for 56) from their formidable opponents.
Maxwell’s dismissal in the 15th over, after a resilient 41-ball 59, decisively shifted the momentum in Afghanistan’s favor, ultimately determining the outcome of the game.
| Afghanistan | Phase | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| 40/0 | Power Play | 33/3 |
| 69/0 | Middle Overs | 75/3 |
| 39/6 | Death Overs | 19 For 4 |
Afghanistan
Power Play: A solid start on a challenging pitch
Phase Score: 40/0 (RR: 6.67, 4s/6s: 5/2)
Australia chose to bowl after replacing Mitchell Starc with Ashton Agar.
Afghanistan aimed to build pressure on the scoreboard, and it became evident why as Agar extracted turn and bounce from the third ball, which eluded both batsman and wicketkeeper, racing away for four byes.
The surface favored taller, faster bowlers from Australia, and after 23 balls in the Power Play, Afghanistan had only amassed 11 runs.
However, Rahmanullah Gurbaz broke the shackles by hitting Pat Cummins for a crucial six down the ground.
Gurbaz continued his onslaught by dispatching a short ball from Josh Hazlewood for six over mid-wicket in the following over, while his partner Ibrahim Zadran struck three fours in the last six balls of the Power Play.
Middle Overs: Gurbaz and Zadran strengthen the foundation
Phase Score: 69/0 (RR: 7.67, 4s/6s: 6/1)
The initial four overs post-Power Play, all bowled by spinners, yielded Afghanistan a steady run rate of one run per ball as the openers opted for cautious methods to consolidate the innings.
They capitalized on quick singles and benefited from some uncharacteristic Australian fielding lapses.
Marcus Stoinis missed a catch off his own bowling to give Zadran a lifeline, while Matthew Wade missed a stumping chance off Adam Zampa that would have dismissed Gurbaz.
Taking advantage of these opportunities, Gurbaz smashed Zampa for a straight six, and another misfield from Agar allowed him to pick up another boundary.
At 109/0 after 15 overs, with Gurbaz on 52 and Zadran on 49, Afghanistan were well positioned to push towards a total of 160 or more.
Death Overs: Zampa and hat-trick hero Cummins restrict Afghan ambitions
Phase Score: 39/6 (RR: 7.80, 4s/6s: 2/2)
However, Afghanistan’s late flourish didn’t materialize.
Gurbaz hit his fourth six off Stoinis in the 16th over before falling while attempting another big shot, departing for a well-made 60 off 49 balls.
Stoinis’s subdued celebration signaled the mounting pressure on the 2021 champions.
Australia, having finally broken through, quickly made further inroads into Afghanistan’s batting lineup.
Zampa cleaned up Azmatullah Omarzai with a slider, and then induced a miscue from Ibrahim Zadran, who skied a catch to short third man.
Pat Cummins returned with his bag of variations, dismissing Rashid Khan with the last ball of his third over, and then claimed the scalps of Karim Janat and Gulbadin Naib with consecutive deliveries in his final over to complete consecutive hat-tricks.
Despite a couple of drops from Australia’s fielders, Afghanistan managed to inch towards 150, thanks in part to a costly over from Josh Hazlewood that leaked 15 runs.
Australia
Power Play: Naveen-ul-Haq strikes early blows
Phase Score: 33/3 (RR: 5.5, 4s/6s: 4/0)
In a tactical change, Afghanistan opened the bowling with Naveen-ul-Haq instead of the usual Fazalhaq Farooqi, a decision that paid off handsomely.
Naveen generated significant movement, both in the air and off the pitch, and made an immediate impact by clean bowling Travis Head with a delivery that curved away from around the wicket.
He then deceived Mitchell Marsh with a well-disguised slower ball, inducing a mistimed shot that resulted in a catch to mid-off.
David Warner fell in the sixth over, top-edging a sweep off Mohammad Nabi, as Afghanistan tightened their grip on the match and restricted Australia to their lowest Power Play score of the tournament.
Middle Overs: Maxwell provides hope, but Naib intervenes
Phase Score: 75/3 (RR: 8.33, 4s/6s: 5/3)
Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis set about rebuilding Australia’s innings, adding 37 runs in the first four overs post-Power Play.
At 70/3 after 10 overs, Australia seemed well poised in the chase.
However, veteran all-rounder Gulbadin Naib made a significant impact upon entering the attack.
He broke the partnership with a short ball that climbed uncomfortably on Stoinis, resulting in a top-edged catch.
Naib then trapped Tim David LBW in his next over, but not before Maxwell had struck two sixes and raced to a 35-ball 50, reminiscent of his exploits in Mumbai in 2023.
With Australia playing out three of Rashid Khan’s overs cautiously, Naib became the attacking edge, inducing Maxwell to sky a catch to backward point, where it was safely pouched by Noor Ahmad.
At that juncture, Australia required just 42 runs from 33 balls.
Death Overs: Afghanistan seals a historic victory
Phase Score: 19/4 (RR: 4.38, 4s/6s: 1/0)
Rashid Khan returned to bowl his final over in the 16th, striking with his first ball as Matthew Wade top-edged a sweep.
The situation now seemed beyond even the miraculous Cummins, who fell to Naib’s delivery that kept low, resulting in his dismissal.
With Cummins gone, Afghanistan was on the verge of a famous victory.
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