T20 World Cup 2024, AFG vs AUS 48th Match, Super Eight, Group 1 Match Report, June 22, 2024

preliminary work

Both openers scored half-centuries, forcing Australia to wait until the 16th over for success. Australia never had to wait so long for a wicket in T20.

Gurbaz and Ibrahim played 21 dots in the first four overs, in which they could score only 17 runs. But they more than doubled the score in the next two overs, ending the powerplay at 40 for 0.

Gurbaz then leapt from his crease and hit a straight six to Adam Zampa, while Ibrahim made swinging room and dismissed Ashton Agar over cover-point for four runs. Australia chose the left-arm fingerspinner ahead of Mitchell Starc, to match the right-arm heavy Afghanistan line-up on the spin-friendly surface, but he failed to take a wicket (4-1-17-0). .

Gurbaz and Ibrahim played high percentage shots to cope with the conditions and Australia’s attack. Ibrahim could have been out for 11 had Zampa not missed a difficult chance in the outfield; Ultimately he made it across the boundary line. Ibrahim got another lease of life on 32 when Stoinis dropped the return catch. Australia’s uncharacteristically loose performance in the field continued and Afghanistan capitalized on several missed opportunities.

come back

Cummins led Australia’s comeback in the death overs with his second hat-trick in three days. On Saturday at St Vincent’s, he dismissed Rashid Khan, Karim Janat and Naib in the 18th and 20th overs. When he achieved the feat against Bangladesh, Cummins said he had forgotten that he was on a hat-trick, but against Afghanistan on Saturday, he was aware of it, even before Maxwell caught the ball as he celebrated. Had raised his hands. Cummins could have scored four out of four if David Warner had not dropped the catch of Nangeyalia Kharote on the next ball. From 118 for 0 in the 16th over, Afghanistan finished at 148 for 6, and by the halfway stage it was anyone’s game.

Naveen’s double strike

Hello again, Maxwell

Australia’s score in three overs was 16 runs for 2 wickets. Enter Maxwell. He started to work on Umarzai by hitting two fours in the space of three balls and then removed left-arm spinner Kharote from the attack. He first reverse-swept Kharote in the slips for four runs and then slog-swept a powerful one over midwicket in the 13th over. Kharote was out with the ball after just one over.

Maxwell also took some calculated risks against Rashid and kept Australia in touch at the asking rate. When he completed his half-century by hitting a six off Naib, the ghost of Mumbai 2023 might have resurfaced for Afghanistan.

NB flexes his muscles

However, Naib helps them in exorcising the ghost.

Australia’s score in 13 overs was 94 runs for 5 wickets, with Maxwell in the middle and finisher Wade. NB had dismissed Stoinis and David in his first two overs. He was also not a part of Afghanistan’s Plan A. Due to the spinners’ errors, especially against Maxwell, Rashid turned to Naib, who responded by taking two more wickets.

NB doesn’t have great pace, but he continues to hit the surface and has a different reaction to the ball. After dismissing Maxwell in his third over, he flexed his muscles and let out a roar that might have been heard in Kabul. Afghanistan fans roared with their hero and waved flags at St. Vincent’s.

Naib fooled Cummins with a slow cutter in his final over, before Naveen and Umarzai sealed the deal for Afghanistan.

Devarayanan Muthu is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo