Afghanistan defeated Australia by 21 runs on Saturday in St. Vincent, maintaining their chances of making it to the Twenty20 World Cup semi-finals. Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran established an opening partnership of 118 runs before Gulbadin Naib took control.
Australia’s perfect record at the event was broken despite Pat Cummins’ second hat-trick. A victory would have advanced the 2021 champions and India to the round of eight.
Before their bowlers knocked the Australians for 127 on a challenging Kingstown surface, the Afghans amassed 148-6 in their 20 overs thanks to half-centuries from Gurbaz and Zadran.
While Naib got 4–20 and Naveenul Haq took 3–20, it was Gurbaz and Zadran’s third century partnership of the tournament that set up a victory .
“We’ve been waiting for this for a long time,” said Naib, the player of the match.
Bangladesh is the only team in lowest place with zero points, followed by Australia and Afghanistan on two and India on four.
Australia had some hope after Glenn Maxwell scored a valiant 59 off 41 balls, but Naib’s removal of him after a spectacular catch by Noor Ahmad all but ended Australia’s chances of winning the match.
