Afghanistan defeat former champions Australia by 21 runs in Super 8 stage of T20 WC
2 min readAfghanistan pulled up a shock 21-run victory in opposition to former champions Australia in a Super 8 match of the continuing T20 World Cup on Saturday, giving a powerful likelihood to qualify for the event’s semi-final stage.
Gulbadin Naib scalped 4 wickets and Naveen-ul-Haq took three wickets to destroy the mighty (*8*) lineup.
After posting 148 runs for the loss of six wickets, Afghanistani pacers completed the duty by bowling out Australia for 127 runs.
Glen Maxwell, who ended Afghanistan’s hope of defeating the present champions in the 50-over format by taking part in 200 runs superhuman innings, failed to vary the destiny of the match this time even after scoring 59 runs off 41 balls.
Gulbadin Naib picked up his wicket to provide Afghanistan the golden likelihood of returning to the match.
Maxwell remained the lone fighter for the squad with the remaining lineup struggling to carry out in entrance of a spirited Afghanistani efficiency.
Mitchell Marsh remained the second prime scorer of the squad with 12 runs.
Afghanistan desperately wanted the victory to maintain their semi-final qualification probabilities brilliant.
Apart from Maxwell, Gulbadin Naib took the prized wickets of Tim David (2), Marcus Stoinis (11) and Pat Cummins (3).
Pat Cummins took his second T20 World Cup hat-trick and Adam Zampa picked up two wickets as Australia earlier restricted the 2021 champions at 148 runs.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (60) and Ibrahim Zadran (51) added 118 runs in the primary wicket partnership to provide Afghanistan a powerful begin in the match which each groups desperately wanted to win.
Australia will subsequent face India and can want a win to maintain their probabilities of attain semi-finals alive.
(*21*)