Afghanistan vs Australia: Kangaroos Fall Victim To Afghanistan’s Exceptional Bowling in CWC 2024

On 22nd June 2024, the Afghanistan bowlers thrashed the Australian batting line up and registered their first win in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Super-8 stage. 

Afghanistan’s performance in the ongoing T20 World Cup has been nothing short of amazing. They have batted, bowled, and fielded exceptionally well. 

The underdogs from Asia grabbed a 21-run victory over Australia at the Arnos Vale Stadium in St. Vincent. 

Gulbadin Naib was Afghanistan’s man with the golden arm, bowling his team to a surprise victory over previously unbeaten Australia. 

Australia won the toss and chose to bowl first. Rahmanullah Gurbaz (60 off 49) and Ibrahim Zadran (51 off 48) were the top run-scorers from the Afghan team. 

Experienced all-rounder Glenn Maxwell was the top run-scorer as he scored 59 runs off 41 balls and took the run chase to a decent point. 

Gurbaz and Zadran partnership gave the Afghans an excellent platform of 118, their third century partnership of the tournament, by the 16th over.

However, Australia wasn’t going to let Afghanistan win that easily. Four wickets for eight runs put the Afghanistan innings back in the balance. Marcus Stoinis made the breakthrough and leg-spinner Adam Zampa applied the brakes with two wickets.

Yet it was Pat Cummins, Australia’s ODI World Cup winning captain who put a stop to the Afghan innings by claiming the wicket of Rashid Khan in the 18th over. 

“It was an off night for us in the field and we own that,” conceded Australian captain Mitchell Marsh regarding the Afghanistan vs Australia Super-8 clash. “We knew it was a difficult wicket but both teams bowled on it, both teams batted on it and we were simply outplayed by a better team on the night.”

Afghanistan skipper Rashid Khan appreciated the opening partnership of Gurbaz and Zadran and exceptional bowling of Gulbadin who took four wickets and conceded only 20 runs in his spell. 

With two teams from the group advancing to the semi-finals, Australia will now have to win their final match against unbeaten leaders India in St Lucia on Monday to be assured of a place in the last four.

Afghanistan, also on two points like Australia, will stay in St Vincent where they face Bangladesh later on Monday by which time they will know what is required to qualify for the semi-finals for the first time.