Cummins’s hat-trick in vain as Afghanistan clinched a historic win
Gulbadin Naib (4/20) and Naveen-ul-Haq (3/20) shared seven wickets between them as Afghanistan stun Australia by 21 runs at the Arnos Vale Ground, Kingstown, St Vincent to stay alive in the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Chasing 149 to win, Australia were bundled out for 127.
It looked like Glenn Maxwell (59 off 41 balls) would take the game away from Afghanistan again, but Gulbadin Naib had different ideas.
He was brought into the attack after the halfway mar with Maxwell and Stoinis was trying to steer the Australian ship. He struck in the first over to remove Stoinis. In the next over, he pinned Tim David. Then in his third over, an excellent catch by Noor Ahmad sent Maxwell back and gave Naib his third wicket. He finished his spell with a four-fer after he castled Pat Cummins.
Naib was ably supported by Naveen-ul-Haq, who set the tone with a double blow in the powerplay.
Australia’s first-ever defeat to Afghanistan in any form of international cricket has thrown open Group 1, which also includes India and Bangladesh, of the ongoing T20 World Cup.
The result also means that Australia will now have to defeat India, who are topping group 1 at the moment, in their final Super 8 match to qualify for the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup.
