AFG VS AUS T20I

Right then, Afghanistan have just pulled off a Trans-Tasmanian double in this World Cup and just like the Kiwis, they might have just sent the Aussies packing as well but there's still a lot of cricket to be played. Next up is a Group 2 clash in the Super Eight stage with the USA taking on England at the Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados on Sunday, 23 June. That game will begin at 8 pm IST (2.30 pm GMT) but you can join us a lot sooner for the build-up. Till then, take care and goodbye!

Rashid Khan, the victorious skipper of Afghanistan says that it is a massive win for them. Adds that they came close in the previous two World Cups, and it feels great to finally get the better of the Aussies. Tells that he is very happy with the performance of his team, and they learned from their mistakes which helped them a lot. Mentions that they knew 140 was going to be a good score but they could not finish as they hoped. Says that the opening partnership was important as the wicket became difficult towards the end. Further adds that it is the beauty of this team as they have a lot of all-rounders who can chip in, and Gulbadin Naib stepped up in this game, and Nabi also picked up a crucial wicket early on. Ends by saying that this is a big victory for them, and now they will focus on the next match as they have all the chances to make it to the semis.

Mitchell Marsh, the captain of Australia says that the opposition got 20 runs too many and they played a really good game of cricket. Adds that a lot of teams have bowled first throughout the tournament and they were happy to bowl first. Mentions that it was an off night for them in the field and they have to own it. Adds that they knew what to expect coming into this game and they were outplayed by Afghanistan. On their clash against India, he says that he is looking forward to it and they just need to win and will be focused on it.

Gulbadin Naib is the Player of the Match for his match-winning spell with the ball. He says they have waited a long time for this and it is a great moment for the team and the entire nation. Adds that the wicket was not easy to bat and they took a few things from the first innings which worked for them. Tells that he is happy that Rashid Khan trusted him and says that it was a complete team performance and everyone played their part. Mentions that they have played some good cricket in this World Cup as they beat New Zealand in the group stages and now they have finally beaten Australia which is a great achievement for their cricket. Further adds that they can now rest and then focus on the next game against Bangladesh.

The Presentation ceremony...

Earlier in the game, Mitchell Marsh won the toss and opted to bowl first on a pitch where most people thought that batting first was the way to go. It was a gritty effort from the Afghanistan openers as they put on a 100-plus stand to set things up for their side. Both Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran reached their fifties but got out soon after and the middle order just wasn't able to kick on from the get-go. Adam Zampa was yet again very consistent for Australia and Pat Cummins made history by picking up hat-tricks in consecutive World Cup matches. Mohammad Nabi managed to drag Afghanistan close to the 150-run mark with a boundary off the final delivery and that gave them a bit of impetus. In reply, Australia's top order misfired and they were left chasing the game and eventually, they ran out of steam.

This will be a very tough pill to swallow for Australia and they will have to regroup quickly as they face a world-class Indian side next in a do-or-die clash to make it to the semifinals. Having bowled first, they knew it was going to be tough at the start and towards the backend to hit the ball cleanly but they couldn't manage to keep wickets in hand to take full advantage of those middle overs. Travis Head went for a duck and David Warner looked tentative, the skipper Mitchell Marsh did counter-attack but he too fell and left them in a hole. It was Glenn Maxwell who really dug them out of trouble and all signs indicated that there would be a repeat of that unforgettable match from last year's ODI World Cup but a stellar catch from Noor Ahmad meant that Maxwell got out on 59 and couldn't stay on till the end. There wasn't much to write about the rest of the batting and they were quite well beaten in the end.

Afghanistan had a defendable total on the board given the nature of the surface and they started off brilliantly with the ball. The move to give Naveen-ul-Haq the first over instead of Fazalhaq Farooqi was spot on as Naveen cleaned up Travis Head and from there on, the Afghans were able to attack. They had Australia reeling at 32/3 before things started to fall apart and the spinners didn't do much damage in the middle phase. It was a sensational spell from Gulbadin Naib in the second half of the innings that really turned the tide and he picked up four wickets to get into the tailenders and Naveen came back in to pick up three wickets in total. Azmatullah Omarzai rounded off a fine display as he got the final wicket and Afghanistan bundled out Australia and picked up their first-ever win against them in T20Is.

AFGHANISTAN ARE ALIVE AND KICKING! Group 1 of the Super Eight stage has just been blown wide open as Afghanistan notch up their most famous win ever and they have dealt a hefty blow to the reigning ODI World Champions in their bid to hold the Test, ODI and T20I World Championships all at the same time. The Afghans came close last year in the ODI World Cup and let it slip through their hands but this time, they have got things perfect and the players are on the field in utter jubilation and rightly so too.

OUT! TAKEN! HISTORY FOR AFGHANISTAN! Azmatullah Omarzai bangs this into the pitch, takes pace off, on middle, Adam Zampa clears his front leg away to muscle it down the ground but fails to generate the power as the ball goes flat towards long on where Mohammad Nabi takes the catch with ease. AFGHANISTAN WIN BY 21 RUNS!

OUT! TAKEN! HISTORY FOR AFGHANISTAN! Azmatullah Omarzai bangs this into the pitch, takes pace off, on middle, Adam Zampa clears his front leg away to muscle it down the ground but fails to generate the power as the ball goes flat towards long on where Mohammad Nabi takes the catch with ease. AFGHANISTAN WIN BY 21 RUNS!

Fuller and on middle, Adam Zampa heaves it wide of deep square leg for a brace. 22 needed in 5 balls now!

Who will bowl the final over? Azmatullah Omarzai is the only medium pacer who has overs up his sleeve and indeed, he will get that ball. 24 runs needed for Australia, one wicket needed for Afghanistan.

Free Hit does not cost Afghanistan much! Hard-length delivery, on middle, angling in, Josh Hazlewood tries to pull it away but misses. Australia need 24 runs in the last over.

That is poor cricket from the fielding side. Pitched up and on leg, Josh Hazlewood flicks it towards deep square leg for a couple of runs. Oh..no! This is called a No Ball because Afghanistan had more fielders outside the circle. Free Hit next.

Back of a length and on off, takes pace off again, Adam Zampa pats it towards mid-wicket for one.

FOUR! Streaky but Australia won't mind that! Full again and around off, Adam Zampa throws his bat it and gets an outside edge over short third for a boundary.