Something Unusual Happened – Afghanistan Defeats Australia

ICC No.2 T20 team, Australia got to taste the defeat against Afghanistan, ICC No.10 team.

In the recent contest against Afghanistan, Australia lost by 21 runs. Pat Cummins’ efforts on the bowling front and Maxwell’s efforts on the batting couldn’t bear a sweeter fruit for the Australian cricket team in the 48th match of the ICC Men’s T20I World Cup.

First Innings

Australia won the toss and decided to ball first.

Afghanistan’s opening batting just the way it should be, Gurbaz and Zadran had a great partnership of 111 runs. Gurbaz scored 60 runs off 49 balls, hitting 4 fours, and 4 sixes at the strike rate of 122.45.

Zadran scored 51 runs off 48 balls, hitting 6 fours at the strike rate of 106.25. The duo led the team to 118. In the 15.5 over, Afghanistan’s first wicket fell. Gurbaz tried to dance down the track to this length ball, attempting to toss it across the line. Hits it high with the bat and holes out to a deep square leg, and David Warner catches.

Gurbaz had done his work. Soon, in the 16.3 over, Azmatullah was bowled by Zampa. Zadran was still scoring runs for the team till Zampa got another wicket in the same over, dismissing Zadran.

What came after this became a real problem for Afghanistan. The wickets started to fall one after the other. From Karim to Rashid, none of the batsmen could deliver an addition in the scoreboard.

Eventually, 20 overs got over and Afghanistan left a target score of 148 runs for the Australians to chase.

Pat Cummins was Australia’s star bowler, got 3 wickets in 4 overs, giving away 28 runs at the economy rate of 7.00. Zampa and Stoinis took 2 and 1 wicket respectively.

Second Innings

Australia’s batting was way poorer than Afghanistan’s. Australia’s start was off-balance, they lost the first wicket in the third ball of the innings. Travis Head got bowled by Naveen-ul-Haq for 0 runs.

It didn’t get late in losing another wicket. David Warner’s slog sweep landed the catch in Noor Ahmad’s hands. Warner scored only 3 runs.

Glenn Maxwell turned out to be the batsman who protected the wicket and added runs to the scoreboard, but his sole performance was not enough. Noor Ahmad took another catch; this time it was Maxwell’s. The batsman scored 59 runs off 41 balls.

Maxwell had imposed some pressure on the Afghan side, and now it was the middle-order's duty to maintain the pressure, safeguard the wickets and score runs. But the middle-order and lower-order batting line-up collapsed badly. None of the batsmen could score more than 10 runs individually.

In the end, Australia was whitewashed at 127 runs and Afghanistan won the match by 21 runs.

Afghanistan’s bowling, especially by the spinner and the Player of the Match, Gulbadin Naib was on point. The bowler took 4 wickets at 20 runs in 4 overs with an economy rate of 5.00.

Naveen-ul-Haq took 3 wickets and gave away 20 runs at the economy rate of 5.00. Azmatullah, Nabi, Rashid, and Naib took 1 wicket each.

What’s Next?

Australia is going head-to-head against India on 24th June at the Darren Sammy National Cricket Stadium. Australia is currently standing in the 2nd spot after one win and a recent loss against Afghanistan. Australia will be fighting hard to win another match and improve their chances of entering the semis.

Afghanistan will be confronting Bangladesh on 25th June at the Arnos Vale Ground. Afghanistan has won one out of two matches of the Super 8 of the World Cup 2024 and is presently standing at the 3rd spot in the points table. Winning the next match would be crucial for them to secure a promising position in the T20 World Cup.

Whereas India, the tally leader is performing exceptionally well in the 2024 T20 World Cup, Men in Blue will leave no stone unturned in maintaining the winning streak.

Also read - India’s 5th Consecutive Win in the ICC T20I World Cup 2024